ProgressOhio

Columbus City Council will vote this Monday on revisions to the Columbus City Code that will add gender identity and expression (as well as age and disability) to the list of protected classes under the city civil rights code -- including all non-discrimination sections and the ethnic intimidation (hate crimes) section.

The proposed ordinance was introduced December 8 by councilor Priscilla Tyson, who chairs the administration committee.

From The Gay People's Chronicle:

The ordinance updates sections of city code covering employment non-discrimination, fair housing, public accommodations and ethnic intimidation.

The sections are similar, but not uniform in listing who is covered, though commonly, race, religion and sexual orientation are included. Sexual orientation was added to the housing and accommodation code in 1984, and to the others in 1992.

The updates add gender identity or expression and, if the sections don’t already have them, sex, ancestry, age, disability and familial status.

No Ohio or federal law prohibits discrimination by sexual orientation or gender identity, although a bill to add them is currently in the state legislature. Four other Ohio cities include both in their non-discrimination ordinances: Cincinnati, Toledo, Dayton and Oxford.

WHAT YOU CAN DO:

Email Priscilla Tyson's aide and express your support for the revisions: cgwilliams@columbus.gov

Attend the City Council meeting on Monday, December 15 at 5 PM: Columbus City Hall Council Chamber, 2nd Floor 90 West Broad St., Columbus, OH 43215