Dear, House Representative

Today I signed this petition concerning House Bill 335, The Equal Housing and Equal Employment Act which is nearly identical to legislation passed by the House of Representatives in the 128th General Assembly with a bipartisan vote as House Bill 176. This piece of legislation was introduce in September of 2011. HB 335 encourages economic development and job growth by preventing firing based on sexual orientation or gender identity expanding those anti-discrimination practice in place under the Ohio Civil Rights Commission laws. We as a citizen of the United States of America feel we deserve equal rights an protections under Ohio's laws.

Twenty-one states and the District of Columbia have passed laws prohibiting employment discrimination based on sexual orientation, and 16 states and D.C. also prohibit discrimination based on gender identity. Although these laws provide important protections, according to a 2002 General Accounting Office (GAO) report, relatively few complaints of discrimination based on sexual orientation have been filed in these states.

Hundreds of companies have enacted policies protecting their lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender employees. As of March 2011, 433 (87 percent) of the Fortune 500 companies had implemented non-discrimination policies that include sexual orientation, and 229 (46 percent) had policies that include gender identity.

It's hard to believe that in Ohio, people still can lose their job or be denied housing, solely because of their sexual orientation or gender identity.

I believe that as an Ohioan we should equally protect hard working Ohio citizens regardless of their sexual orientation or gender identity. So I am signing this petition today to ask you to Support EHEA to help end Ohio's discrimination.