Equality Ohio
Encyclopedia : E : EQ : EQU : Equality Ohio
In April 2005, shortly after the passage of the Constitutional ban on same-sex marriage in the U.S. state of Ohio, nearly 60 individuals from across Ohio and the nation gathered in the basement of [King Ave. United Methodist Church] in Columbus, Ohio to create together the outline of an organization that would serve the needs of Ohio's lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) citizens and their families. There they established the foundation for Equality Ohio. Both Equality Ohio, a 501(c)4 organization, and the Equality Ohio Education Fund, a 501(c)3 organization, were officially founded in 2005. [Equality Ohio] is a nonprofit organization who's mission is to "serve as an advocate and champion for fair treatment and equal opportunity for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender citizens; facilitate a greater understanding of our common humanity through education and outreach efforts; engage and empower individuals, families, organizations, businesses and institutions in Ohio's urban, suburban, and rural areas; and collaborate with local, regional, statewide, and national organizations and government agencies". In October 2005 [Equality Ohio] officially launched with the "Homecoming Rally for Equality" held on the lawn of the Ohio Statehouse in Columbus, Ohio. On May 17, 2006 Equality Ohio organized the first-ever Lobby Day for Equality which brought more than 500 Ohioans and their families to the offices of legislators. The organization's major legislative priorities include: 1) a statewide Employment Non-Discrimination Act for Ohio that includes sexual orientation and gender identity or expression; 2) foster parent and adoption laws that do not exclude loving parents who happen to be lesbian, gay, bisexual, or transgender; 3) a Safe Schools bill that protects ALL children; 4) a Hate Crimes Act that protects ALL Ohioans; 5) the legal right for an Ohioan to amend their own birth certificate after sex reassignment. [Equality Ohio] is a member of the [Equality Federation] along with other state-level LGBT equality organizations across the nation like Mass Equality.
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