Ohio gay laws
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Equal Employment and Opportunity Commission, where a transgender woman was fired because of her gender identity. Joint adoption is not permitted. Clayton County—in which it held that “an employer who fires an individual merely for being gay or transgender violates Title VII.
LGBT Health Care Protections
The State of Ohio offers no legal protections against discrimination in health care and health insurance on the basis of sexual orientation or gender identity
This has many practical negative effects on the LGBTQ community.
This means that a person can still be fired, denied housing, or refused service simply because of whom they love or how they identify. & G.R. Harris Funeral Homes Inc. v. Stepparent adoption creates a relationship between the adopting stepparent and the child that is the same as if the child were born to the stepparent.
For unmarried couples, both same-sex and heterosexual, the options for securing parental rights are more restricted.
Our family, our friends, and many of our employees make up a part of our local LGBT community. That’s why we as a firm have been working to support and foster our community. (Ohio must, however, recognize a second-parent adoption that is granted in another state.) The best option for protecting one’s parental rights if unmarried in Ohio is with a shared parenting plan that may be filed with the court.
Contact an Experienced LGBTQ Attorney to Protect your Rights
Progress in the area of LGBTQ legal rights has been made, but much more needs to be achieved, particularly in Ohio. Obergefell is a landmark civil rights case in which the Supreme Court of the United States ruled that the fundamental right to marry is guaranteed to same-sex couples by both the Due Process Clause and the Equal Protection Clause of the U.S.
Constitution’s Fourteenth Amendment. Zardaand Bostock v. This includes 7 cities in particular:
In Dayton, where our headquarters are located, there is a law to help minors from being exposed to the practice.
Dyer, Garofalo, Mann, & Schultz have been an outspoken supporter of LGBTQ+ rights since its founding.
LGBTQ rights we still don’t have:
- No Parental Leave Laws for Same-Sex Couples
- Non-Discrimination Laws for Same-Sex Couples Looking to Adopt are nonexistent
- No Non-Discrimination Laws for Foster Care
Employment Law
On June 15, 2020, the U.S. Supreme Court issued a landmark 6-3 decision affirming that the prohibition on sex discrimination in Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 extends to discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity.
Stepparent adoption is also prohibited if the couple is not married. Supporting our community and extending legal protections for everyone has always been our mission.
However, it’s more than just something we say.
Ohio's Equality Profile
Sexual Orientation
of population
fully protected
of population only
partially
protected
- State
Protections - County
Protections - City
Protections - No
Protections - Protections
Banned
Legend
County map only shows areas with full protections for sexual orientation (i.e., discrimination prohibited in private employment, housing, and public accommodations)
City and County Numbers:
1 county out of 88 has an ordinance prohibiting discrimination based on sexual orientation in private employment, housing, and public accommodations (full protections).
39 cities have an ordinance prohibiting discrimination based on sexual orientation in private employment, housing, and public accommodations (full protections).
16 municipalities, not including those listed above, have an ordinance prohibiting discrimination based on sexual orientation in private employment, housing, or public accommodations (only partial protections).
As a result, the following benefits are available to all married same-sex couples on the same basis as they are available to married different-sex couples:
- All states recognize marriages performed in other states
- Same-sex couples can file joint state tax returns
- Employers must now offer same-sex couple spousal benefits
- Couples have the same visitation and decision-making rights as other couples
- Now same-sex couples have the same rights upon the death of a partner
- A right to divorce
Ohio LGBT Adoption
In Ohio, a married same-sex couple may petition for a joint adoption if the child is not birthed by either of the individuals.
The guide also includes a list of legal documents it is recommended that all LGBTQ+ families secure in order to ensure their rights and wishes are respected.
This report is the result of a partnership between Family Equality and Equality Ohio.
Topics covered:
- Relationship recognition
- Children and parentage
- Adoption
- Surrogacy, assisted reproduction, & artificial insemination
- Birth certificates for children of same-sex couples
- Applying for a social security number and card for a child
- Applying for a passport for a child
- Non-discrimination protections
- Employment
- Housing
- Public accommodations
- School policies and anti-bullying
- Healthcare
- Family and/or parenting leave
- Changes of name and gender
- Hate crimes protections
- Recommended legal documents for same-sex couples
Download Guide
Serving openly in military in Ohio is lesbians, gays, bisexuals permitted, transgender people banned.
On February 10th, 2025, Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth filed in court a memo relating to President Trumpâs executive order from the previous month.
From then until March 18th, 2025, The U.S.
military prohibited transgender individuals from enlisting and ceased providing or supporting gender transition procedures for service members.
31% of the state population is protected against discrimination based on sexual orientation in private employment, housing, and public accommodations (full protections).
This decision resulted from three cases: Altitude Express Inc. v. The Supreme Court combined these cases and issued a single opinion—Bostock v.
See table below.
LGBTQ Legal Rights in Ohio: What You Need to Know
Ohio does not have a statewide law that protects LGBTQ people from discrimination.