Bill > HB389

This bill, known as the Ohio Fairness Act, aims to prohibit discrimination based on sexual orientation or gender identity or expression across various areas of Ohio law, including employment, housing, public accommodations, and credit. It amends numerous sections of the Revised Code to explicitly include these protections alongside existing protections for race, color, religion, sex, age, ancestry, national origin, disability, and military status. The bill also adds mediation as an informal method the Ohio Civil Rights Commission can use to resolve disputes before formal hearings, and it clarifies that existing religious exemptions within Ohio's Civil Rights Law will remain in effect. The legislative findings section emphasizes the need to protect the civil rights of all Ohio residents, particularly lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender individuals who are often targets of discrimination.