Day of Decision

Tomorrow (or today) we will discover, as Les Mis would say, what our god in Heaven has in store.

The Supreme Court makes it's decision today regarding the legality of Proposition 8 -- whether it is legal for voters to overturn the civil rights of a minority. I've said it before: I really do think it will fail, but I think it will be close, and I am ever hopeful. Listening to the Chief Justice say, during the hearings, "Yea, but we're working under a new Constitution, now," nearly broke my heart.

If you would like to know immediately, the decision will come down at approximately 1pm (10am in California), and you can find out either via email from the Courage Campaign, or by texting "DECISION" to 27336 for an announcement the minute it comes out. I do not know of any Cincinnati protests going on... at least, none have come across my email.

Hold your breath, cross your fingers, and suck in your gut. Today will be a rough one... but at least we'll be able to figure out where to go next, and we can put this ugly mess behind us.

I think, since I probably have nothing new or interesting to say on the subject that hasn't or won't have been said by the time I get to post, I will not be posting an opinion on the subject at all. More on that later. Check out Law Dork, 2.0's post on the subject and the subsequent discussion.

(OH) EHEA Update

The Equal Housing and Employment Act (HB176) -- Ohio's bill to prohibit discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity/expression -- begins its tortuous path through state government. I got a heads up from Equality Ohio today that the bill had been referred to State Government subcommittee in the state House.

Currently, the bill has 27 co-sponsors, and, after yesterday's Lobby Day, it seems that we are hopeful for a wide passage and the possibility of more to sign on.

Chris Geidner over at Law Dork, 2.0, who also sits on one of the committees of Equality Ohio (which I did not know, btw, and does no dis-endear him too much to me; he seems like a reasonable guy), is pushing for an addition 6 co-sponsors, bringing the total to 33, or 1/3 of the entire House. He's entitling this 6-for-1/3 Challenge. In short: he's asking us, again, to contact our representatives and asking them to sign on as co-sponsors. Please note that only 2 HamCo representatives are cosponsors, at this point.

Have you, yet?

HB 176 -- Equal Housing and Employment Act

I had some problem following up to my previous post about the introduction of the Equal Housing and Employment Act in Ohio, but I emailed Lynne at Equality Ohio for clarification.

The EHEA was introduced, and it is House Bill number 176:

To amend sections 9.03, 124.93, 125.111, 340.12, 511.03, 717.01, 1501.012, 1751.18, 2927.03, 3113.36, 3301.53, 3304.14, 3304.50, 3313.481, 3314.06, 3332.09, 3721.13, 3905.55, 4111.17, 4112.01, 4112.02, 4112.021, 4112.04, 4112.05, 4112.08, 4117.19, 4735.16, 4735.55, 4757.07, 4758.16, 4765.18, 5104.09, 5107.26, 5111.31, 5119.61, 5123.351, 5126.07, 5515.08, and 5709.832 of the Revised Code to prohibit discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation or gender identity and expression.

Equality Ohio and many wonderful people are up in Columbus today lobbying our state representatives to support HB176. There are at least three Tweet streams running today talking about their efforts -- Cameron Tolle of IMPACTCincinnati, Chris Geidner of Law Dork, 2.0, and Equality Ohio's Brand-Spanking New Twitter. Follow one or follow all. Cameron's has been very active so far, and he says he's been receiving very positive responses from the two Republican Representatives he's spoken to today.

Couldn't attend today? That's ok! Equality Ohio is asking you to Lobby from home tomorrow (a link will be available as soon as I get to computer that supports Facebook; link here). From the Facebook invite (transcribed from my mobile phone):

Call your legislator today and tell them why equal rights are important to you and your loved ones.

You can look up your representative's phone number by clicking here.

A conversation might sound like this:

"As your constituent and a supporter of Equality Ohio, I urge you to support the Equal Housing and Employment Act (EHEA). In many parts of Ohio, you can still be fired or denied housing just for being lesbian, gay, bisexual, or transgender.

Twenty states and almost all Fortune 500 companies already ban this kind of discrimination, putting Ohio at a disadvantage when competing for next generation companies and workers.

No one should have to worry about being fired or losing their home just because of wh they are, so I hope I can count on you to support EHEA."

And once you've called your legislators, be sure to ask you friends, family members and colleagues to take action too. Ohio state legislators need to hear from as many supporters of equality as possible.

Make sure you check back here and tell us that you called in or emailed! On that link above you can check in for all of your elected representatives -- from President to City Council.

I'll post more information as it comes available, as well as information about Lobby Day. I have one person saying they wish to guest blog about the day, and, now doubt, Law Dork 2.0 will have a recap (I swear I've talked about that guy more today than I've ever talked about any other blogger).

Let's make 2009 the year that we pass equal protections in the state of Ohio!

Lobby Day in Columbus!

Today is Equality Ohio's lobby day for the Equal Housing and Employment Act here in Ohio! Our friend over at Law Dork, 2.0, as is a rather unexpected contingency from Cincinnati.

Good luck to all, wish I could be there!