On Wednesday, April 28, 2009, I will be taking Carly, Abby and Isabella to the Equality Ohio Rally. We are all very excited to attend such an event. This topic is very close to our hearts and we will do whatever we can as a family to support our generations GLBTQ movement.
Regression gets us nowhere...Progressiveness is the future....
FYI
**It is legal in the state of Ohio to be fired from your job or denied an apartment or house because of your sexual orientation or gender identity or expression. In many cities in Ohio this practice is illegal, but there are no state level protections.
**21 of the 50 states presently protect people from this type of discrimination, putting Ohio at a competitive disadvantage for recruitment and hiring of the best and brightest professional talent. Many employers across the country and here in Ohio have extended non-discrimination policies to cover LGBT persons, but millions of Ohioans remain unprotected. Protections are needed for everyone.
**Ohio’s LGBT families are not fully and equally protected by state law. Ohio does not perform or recognize same sex marriages, civil unions or domestic partnerships. In addition, the state’s Constitution was amended in 2004 to say:
Only a union between one man and one woman may be a marriage valid in or recognized by this state and its political subdivisions. This state and its political subdivisions shall not create or recognize a legal status for relationships of unmarried individuals that intends to approximate the design, qualities, significance or effect of marriage.
**LGBT couples who wish to adopt children, or who seek to be a custodial parent of their partner’s biological child, face serious challenges and barriers to full protection under the law. In Ohio, unfortunately, the courts have not been willing to allow two same-sex individuals to adopt a child together, nor have they approved of a second-parent adoption when the other parent is the same sex as the first parent.
**In addition, extremist groups in Ohio have been threatening to put forth an effort to outright ban all adoptions by LGBT individuals.
Both of these policies harm the children of Ohio who are being raised in loving, supportive households or who are looking for a family to call their own.
Both of these policies harm the children of Ohio who are being raised in loving, supportive households or who are looking for a family to call their own.
**Ohio does not have a broad law to prevent school bullying. Ohio also does not have a law preventing discrimination in education based on sexual orientation or gender identity.
**Ohio’s hate crimes, or "ethnic intimidation" law does not specifically address crimes motivated by the victim’s sexual orientation, gender identity, or gender expression. An act of violence motivated by hatred sends a message not just to an individual victim, but to an entire community of people. When an Ohioan is targeted and harmed because of their real or perceived sexual orientation or gender identity, all LGBT Ohioans and their allies are affected in very real ways. The community feels less safe, less welcome, and more vulnerable.
The above info was copied from: http://www.equalityohio.org/
One more factoid that I did not get from the site, but from a friends personal story.
** In the state of Ohio, it is not permissible to donate blood if you are a gay man or lesbian woman.
1 comment:
Good for you Nikki!! You're doing a very good thing. I applaud you and your efforts = D
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