ProgressOhio

Today's Columbus Dispatch reports findings of a Central Ohio survey that documents discrimination aimed at the LGBT community.

The survey is the just latest evidence of Ohio's need to pass pending legislation that would outlaw discrimination based on sexual orientation or gender identity.

On Tuesday, May 15th, the Senate Judiciary Committee will hear testimony on Senate Bill 305, which seeks to ban such discrimination in housing, employment or public accommodation.

Survey's respondents report threats, intolerance

They are mostly healthy, in committed relationships and happy with central Ohio's social scene.

But people responding to a first-ever survey of area gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender residents also report high levels of depression, face threats because of their sexual orientation and often suffer discrimination in the workplace.

The findings show that Columbus, although known as a gay-friendly city, still has some work to do, survey organizers said.

"We have to create a community in which everyone feels welcome and everyone feels at home, now," said Bill LaFayette, vice president of economic analysis for the Columbus Chamber.

"I think it's important for the business community to take a look at this, and take a look at themselves."

LaFayette was a volunteer member of the steering committee for the "GLBT Census of Central Ohio," a project led by the Columbus AIDS Task Force, Stonewall Columbus and the United Way of Central Ohio.

Organizers said they opted for the anonymous, online survey to attract the most participants. It isn't possible to extract demographic snapshots of the entire gay and lesbian community from U.S. Census data because it does not ask about sexual orientation.

An estimated 35,000 gay, lesbian and bisexual residents live in Columbus, with about 68,000 in the metro area.

Read The Full Story Here

ProgressOhio has created a website "Do What's Right Ohio" in association with our friends and allies at Equality Ohio.

The website will officially launch next week.