As GOP Writes Anti-LGBT Platform, Cleveland City Council Votes to Protect Transgender Ohioans

CLEVELAND - July 13, 2016 -- The Republican National Convention is coming to town next week and preparing to adopt a "staunchly conservative platform" that "amounts to a rightward lurch even from the party's hard-line platform in 2012" -- meanwhile, the Cleveland City Council today unanimously voted to protect transgender citizens under the city's public accommodations law.

"As the nation turns its eyes toward Cleveland for the Republican National Convention, Democratic leaders in our state's second-largest city are moving the ball forward in protecting transgender people from discrimination," said Ohio Democratic Party Chairman David Pepper. "Republicans like Donald Trump want to divide us and tear people down with bullying, hate-filled rhetoric and bigoted, dangerous policy proposals, while Democrats believe we are stronger together. We are proud of Cleveland City Council for taking action on this issue. Businesses that are open to the public should be open to everyone on the same terms, including people who are transgender, and that's exactly what this ordinance will ensure."

At the state level, Ohio Republicans are pushing the same kind of laws and policies that would be reflected in their party's platform. Ohio Attorney General Mike DeWine has joined a lawsuit challenging the Obama administration's guidelines to schools on accommodating transgender students. An Ohio state representative is introducing an anti-LGBT bathroom bill.

However at the local level, Democrats are making progress to protect LGBT Ohioans, as evidenced by today's action in Cleveland. Last month Lakewood -- also in Cuyahoga County -- become the 15th city in Ohio with an LGBT non-discrimination ordinance.

Ohio does not have a statewide non-discrimination law, but state Rep. Nickie Antonio -- an openly gay legislator who will represent Ohio at the Democratic National Convention in Philadelphia -- has introduced a bill. In 2009, the state House passed non-discrimination legislation, but the state Senate failed to act.

According to Equality Ohio, 79 percent of Ohio registered voters believe that laws should be passed banning discrimination in employment, housing and public accommodations based on both sexual orientation and gender identity.

An ad sponsored by Equality Ohio, with Freedom For All Americans, National Center for Transgender Equality and Movement Advancement Project, will run on Fox News during the Republican National Convention to depict the challenges transgender people face in accessing public restrooms.

CLICK HERE TO WATCH: http://fairnessusa.org/

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