News in Ohio

[DonnaT]

Strickland bans discrimination on basis of sexual orientation

ANDREW WELSH-HUGGINS
Associated Press

COLUMBUS, Ohio - Gov. Ted Strickland planned Thursday to sign an executive order that bans discrimination in state employment on the basis of sexual orientation and gender identity.

Strickland, a Democrat, wants to restore the specific protection removed by Gov. Bob Taft in August 1999 several months into Taft's first term.

"The governor made the determination that this is necessary to ensure state employees are judged on work performance and not discriminated against for any reason in state offices," said Strickland spokesman Keith Dailey.

Gov. Richard Celeste, a Democrat, first issued an order including the category of sexual orientation from a policy banning employment bias in Ohio government. It was kept on the books unchanged by Republican Gov. George Voinovich.

Under Taft, the order cited categories protected by state or federal law, including military veteran status, race, color, religion, national origin, ancestry and sex.

It also included "groups and classifications of persons that could be subject to discrimination but are not expressly protected by state or federal law."

Taft argued at the time this language made the anti-discrimination order stronger than it had been.

Gender identity could include anyone perceived as having characteristics associated with the opposite gender, including transsexuals.

The goal is to prevent discrimination against employees or those seeking a state job who are perceived by a superior as not acting the way someone of that gender is supposed to act, Dailey said.

http://www.ohio.com/mld/beaconjournal/17235746.htm

[Aeryn]

Proud to have voted for Gov. Strickland. :-)

/Taft was an backside. Is an backside- I am sure that hasn't changed. He is also the only Ohio governor ever convicted of a felony while in office and yet refused to step down. Funny that he forced others to resign for lesser infractions in the name of integrity of government.

//I am done editorializing and threadjacking...

[Carol Ann]

Donna,
On paper is one thing, in the work place is another. I remember when they passed a bill like that in New Orleans for city workers. I remember a fellow saying on TV "if a guy shows up for work in a dress I promise you I will fire him". Laws are good if people abide by them.