Equality Ohio is a Columbus, Ohio-based left-of-center nonprofit group that advocates for LGBT causes in Ohio. The group opposes efforts by Ohio state officials to ban child sex changes and to restrict other gender-related treatments. ¹

The group also opposes proposed laws to restrict the performance of drag shows for children ² and advocates for repealing laws that criminalize the failure to disclose HIV status before engaging in sexual activity. ³

Background

Activists founded Equality Ohio in 2005 after voters approved a state constitutional amendment barring state recognition of same-sex marriage and civil unions. In 2015, the group, along with the ACLU of Ohio and the Human Rights Campaign, co-founded Ohio Business Competes to push for LGBT-focused anti-discrimination laws on the state level. The coalition consists of businesses, universities, and law firms. ⁴

The group is a member of the left-of-center LGBT group Equality Federation. The group also has an affiliated sister group, the Equality Ohio Education Fund. ⁵

Advocacy

Executive Order Banning Discrimination Against Transgender Employees

In December 2018, Equality Ohio urged then-Governor-elect Mike DeWine (R) to maintain an executive order signed by then-Governor John Kasich (R) that banned discrimination against transgender state employees. The group gave DeWine an “F” candidate rating on their scorecard because of his defense of Ohio’s same-sex marriage restrictions as state attorney general. ⁶

HIV Status Laws

In June 2023, Equality Ohio joined with the Ohio Health Modernization Movement, Equitas Health, and the AIDS Healthcare Foundation to weaken laws against failing to disclose that a person is HIV positive before engaging in sexual contact. The coalition attacked the law as “incorrectly assuming an HIV diagnosis is a death sentence.”  ³

Anti-Discrimination Laws

In June 2023, Equality Ohio joined with the ACLU of Ohio, TransOhio, the Human Rights Campaign, and the Ohio Competes Coalition to support the reintroduction of the Ohio Fairness Act which would ban discrimination against LGBT Ohioans under state law. ⁷

Parental Notification

In June 2023, Equality Ohio opposed a bill that would have banned the teaching of “sexuality content” without parental notification and gave parents a chance to examine the materials. The group claimed the bill was a “don’t say gay” bill and said the bill made LGBT topics inappropriate for the classroom. ⁸

Child Sex Changes

In January 2024, Equality Ohio opposed the Ohio legislature’s successful override of Governor Mike DeWine’s (R) veto of legislation that would have banned child sex changes and hormone treatments for people under the age of 18. ⁹

Bathroom Bill

In June 2024, Equality Ohio said it was “appalled” by the decision of Governor Mike DeWine (R) to sign a proposed bill that would mandate gender-specific bathrooms at K-12 public schools and universities. The group claimed if the Ohio legislature passed the bill that it would force more Ohioans to leave the state. ¹⁰

Drag Restrictions

In June 2024, Equality Ohio joined with the ACLU of Ohio and TransOhio to oppose restrictions on performing drag shows outside of adult-only venues. ²

Staff Unionization

In September 2022, Equality Ohio announced that its employees had formed a labor union, Equality Ohio Workers United. The union is affiliated with the Chicago and Midwest Joint Board of Workers United, a division of the Service Employees International Union. ¹¹

Leadership

Equality Ohio’s co-interim executive director is Katie Belanger. She operates a political consulting firm, Katie B. Strategies, LLC. ¹²

The group’s previous executive director was Alana Jochum, who left to become the policy director for the Transgender Legal Defense and Education Fund. ¹³

The board chair is Amanda Everitt, who is the executive director of Destination Downtown Lancaster. ¹⁴

Finances

According to Equality Ohio’s 2022 tax return, the group had $133,946 in revenue, $122,943 in expenses, and $103,168 in assets. ¹⁵

1. Hendrickson, Samantha. “Ohio Bans Gender-Affirming Care and Restricts Transgender Athletes Despite GOP Governor’s Veto.” Boston Herald, January 24, 2024. https://www.bostonherald.com/2024/01/24/ohio-bans-gender-affirming-care-and-restricts-transgender-athletes-despite-gop-governors-veto/.
2. “Press Release: Equality Ohio, ACLU of Ohio, and TransOhio Denounce House Bill 245 Ahead of Proponent Testimony .” Equality Ohio – Ohio’s Moment for Equality, June 4, 2024. https://equalityohio.org/press-release-equality-ohio-aclu-of-ohio-and-transohio-denounce-house-bill-245-ahead-of-proponent-testimony/.
3. Rees, David. “Ohio’s ‘unjust’ HIV-Criminalization Laws Still in Effect, State’s Revised Code Shows.” NBC4 WCMH-TV, June 27, 2023. https://www.nbc4i.com/news/local-news/columbus/ohios-unjust-hiv-criminalization-laws-still-in-effect-states-revised-code-shows/.
4. “History .” Equality Ohio – Ohio’s Moment for Equality. Accessed July 22, 2024. https://equalityohio.org/about/history/.
5. “About Us.” Equality Ohio – Ohio’s Moment for Equality. Accessed July 22, 2024. https://equalityohio.org/about/.
6. Bhatia, Kabir. “Equality Ohio Cautiously Optimistic DeWine Might Continue Kasich Order.” Ideastream Public Media, December 20, 2016. https://www.ideastream.org/news/government-politics/2018-12-20/equality-ohio-cautiously-optimistic-dewine-might-continue-kasich-order.
7. “Ohio Fairness Act Reintroduced with Strong Support from Statewide LGBTQ+ Advocates and Ohio Business Competes Coalition.” ACLU of Ohio, June 29, 2023. https://www.acluohio.org/en/press-releases/ohio-fairness-act-reintroduced-strong-support-statewide-lgbtq-advocates-and-ohio.
8. Henry, Megan. “Ohio House Bill 8 Would Force Schools to Notify Parents before Teaching ‘Sexuality Content’ • Ohio Capital Journal.” Ohio Capital Journal, June 12, 2023. https://ohiocapitaljournal.com/2023/06/12/house-bill-8-would-force-schools-to-notify-parents-before-teaching-sexuality-content/.
9. Hendrickson, Samantha. “Ohio Bans Gender-Affirming Care and Restricts Transgender Athletes despite GOP Governor’s Veto.” Boston Herald, January 24, 2024. https://www.bostonherald.com/2024/01/24/ohio-bans-gender-affirming-care-and-restricts-transgender-athletes-despite-gop-governors-veto/.
10. Provance, Jim. “DeWine Says He Would Sign Bathroom Bill.” Toledo Blade, June 28, 2024. https://www.toledoblade.com/local/politics/2024/06/28/dewine-says-he-would-sign-bathroom-bill/stories/20240628118.
11. “Press Release: Equality Ohio Announces Formation of Historic Worker Union – Equality Ohio.” Equality Ohio – Ohio’s Moment for Equality, September 12, 2022. https://equalityohio.org/press-release-equality-ohio-announces-formation-of-historic-worker-union/.
12. “Staff.” Equality Ohio – Ohio’s Moment for Equality. Accessed July 22, 2024. https://equalityohio.org/about/staff-interns/.
13. “Equality Ohio’s Executive Director, Alana Jochum, to Move on to New Role at National Policy Organization .” The Buckeye Flame, October 30, 2023. https://thebuckeyeflame.com/2023/10/30/equality-ohio-executive-director-to-move-on/.
14.  “Leadership.” Equality Ohio – Ohio’s Moment for Equality. Accessed July 22, 2024. https://equalityohio.org/about/leadership/#acc_people_2944.
15. “Equality Ohio, Full Filing – Nonprofit Explorer.” ProPublica. Accessed July 22, 2024. https://projects.propublica.org/nonprofits/organizations/20743270/202343189349203644/full.