- Homosexuality
- ⚢✔ Legal
- Gay Marriage
- ⚭✔ Legal
- Censorship
- ✔ No censorship
- Changing Gender
- ✔ Legal, no restrictions
- Gender-Affirming Care
- ✖ Legal, but banned for minors
- Non-Binary Gender Recognition
- ✔ Recognized
- Discrimination
- ✖ No protections
- Employment Discrimination
- ✔ Sexual orientation and gender identity
- Housing Discrimination
- ✖ No protections
- Adoption
- ✔ Legal
- Intersex Infant Surgery
- Unknown
- Military
- ✔ Legal
- Donating Blood
- Unknown
- Conversion Therapy
- ✖ Not banned
- Age of Consent
- ✔ Equal
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Public Opinion
Public opinion surveys in Ohio have pointed to a varied attitude towards LGBTQ+ individuals.
OPPOSE
SUPPORT
Perception of LGBTQ+ People
Survey results from 10 LGBTQ+ Equaldex users who lived in or visited Ohio.
Overall
Perceived Safety**Survey results represent personal perceptions of safety and may not be indicative of current actual conditions.
Equal Treatment
Visibility & Representation
Culture
Services
History
Homosexual activity in Ohio is legal.
Current status
Since Jun 26, 2003
Legal
US Supreme Court ruling issued in Lawrence v. Texas struck down all sodomy laws on the basis of privacy and liberty. The decision overturned any laws remaining in all US states which prohibited acts of sodomy.
Same-sex marriage in Ohio is legal.
Current status
Since Jun 26, 2015
Legal
The US Supreme Court rules that same-sex marriage is legal nationwide.
Banned
Constitutional amendment adopted by state wide vote in 2004. Passed with 62% of the vote. Text of amendment follows:
§ 15.11 Marriage Amendment
Only a union between one man and one woman may be a marriage valid in or recognized by this state and its political subdivisions. This state and its political subdivisions shall not create or recognize a legal status for relationships of unmarried individuals that intends to approximate the design, qualities, significance or effect of marriage.
§ 15.11 Marriage Amendment
Only a union between one man and one woman may be a marriage valid in or recognized by this state and its political subdivisions. This state and its political subdivisions shall not create or recognize a legal status for relationships of unmarried individuals that intends to approximate the design, qualities, significance or effect of marriage.
Censorship of LGBT issues in Ohio is no censorship.
Current status
No censorship
There is no laws censoring LGBT topics currently in Ohio.
However, on April 4, 2022, a bill was introduced mimicking the "Don't say gay" bill in Florida, in which schools would be forbidden from teaching LGBT topics and critical race theory. The bill was heard during the Summer and is set to be heard again in the Fall.
However, on April 4, 2022, a bill was introduced mimicking the "Don't say gay" bill in Florida, in which schools would be forbidden from teaching LGBT topics and critical race theory. The bill was heard during the Summer and is set to be heard again in the Fall.
Right to change legal gender in Ohio is legal, no restrictions.
Current status
Since May 2021
Legal, no restrictions
Ohio's birth certificate law was struck down in December 2020 and judged discriminatory against transgender individuals. Thus, Ohio-born citizens will now be able to modify their gender marker.
There is no specific requirement to modify the gender marker, since each court will have their own ruling, but it is advised that their requirement be as accessible as possible.
There is no specific requirement to modify the gender marker, since each court will have their own ruling, but it is advised that their requirement be as accessible as possible.
Until May 2021
Ambiguous
Only option that is not legal is changing birth certificates. Missing non binary options on documents.
Gender-affirming care in Ohio is legal, but banned for minors.
Current status
Since Aug 6, 2024
Legal, but banned for minors
On August 6th, 2024, an Ohio judge upheld a law which bans gender-affirming care such as puberty blockers and hormones for transgender minors.
Until Aug 6, 2024
Legal
Adults and Minors are able to still get gender affirming care in Ohio. Minors are unknown at this time due to an ongoing lawsuit about HB68. HB68 also known as the SAFE Act (Saving Ohio Adolescents from Experimentation), bans all gender affirming care and requires minors to "lean off" medications. Adults are able to get gender affirming care as Governor DeWine backed off his proposed plans to ban gender affirming care for adults. As of April 23rd 2024, Minors and Adults are freely still able to get gender affirming care
Legal recognition of non-binary gender in Ohio is recognized.
Current status
Since May 2021
Recognized
While making gender marker change on birth certificates available to transgender individuals, an X gender marker option was also added for non-binary individuals.
LGBT discrimination in Ohio is no protections.
Current status
No protections
As of December 16, 2014, there are no legal protections for people who are LGBT in regards to employment. However, public employees of the state are protected based on both sexual orientation as well as gender identities.
Illegal
Full discrimination protection in state employment. As well under Section VII under sex discrimination. Section VII ruled to include gender identity. As well as city discrimination protection in 22 cities and one county for sexual orientation protection. in 21 cities full discrimination protection.
LGBT employment discrimination in Ohio is sexual orientation and gender identity.
Current status
Since Jun 15, 2020
Sexual orientation and gender identity
Protected federally by a Supreme Court ruling.
LGBT housing discrimination in Ohio is no protections.
Current status
No protections
This state does not provide any legal protections from discrimination based upon sexual orientation or gender identification.
However, the Human Rights Campaign states, "The Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) requires grantees and participants of HUD programs to comply with local and state non-discrimination laws that include sexual orientation and gender identity.
HUD also prohibits inquiries regarding the sexual orientation or gender identity of a prospective tenant or applicant for assisted
housing in every state (March 2012)."
However, the Human Rights Campaign states, "The Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) requires grantees and participants of HUD programs to comply with local and state non-discrimination laws that include sexual orientation and gender identity.
HUD also prohibits inquiries regarding the sexual orientation or gender identity of a prospective tenant or applicant for assisted
housing in every state (March 2012)."
Same-sex adoption in Ohio is legal.
Current status
Since Jun 26, 2015
Legal
There are no laws prohibiting Ohio same-sex adoption. Both single LGBT individuals and gay and lesbian couples are permitted to petition to adopt in the state of Ohio. Prior to the Supreme Court legalizing gay marriage in 2015, only single LGBT individuals could adopt. However, since then, same-sex couples are permitted to adopt in Ohio.
Serving openly in military in Ohio is legal.
Current status
Since Feb 26, 2021
Legal under federal United States law
President Biden removed former President Trumps ban on transgender people serving in the military, transgender people are still allowed to serve as of 2024.
A year after the ban was lifted, Admiral Levine was sworn into being an Admiral, becoming the first transgender woman to hold a high rank in the Navy and in Cabinet.
A year after the ban was lifted, Admiral Levine was sworn into being an Admiral, becoming the first transgender woman to hold a high rank in the Navy and in Cabinet.
Lesbians, gays, bisexuals permitted, transgender people banned under federal United States law
New policy goes into effect barring individuals with a "condition" known as "gender dysphoria."
Legal under federal United States law
In 2011, "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" was repealed by the Obama Administration. Former President Obama allowed members who were dishonorably discharged under DADT, to receive an honorable discharge.
Don't Ask, Don't Tell under federal United States law
Don't Ask, Don't Tell was the historic compromise signed by President Bill Clinton authorizing people who are LGBT to serve in the military provided they didn't disclose sexuality. The law also removed the ability for others in the military from asking for a service member's orientation.
Conversion therapy in Ohio is not banned.
Current status
Not banned
Conversion Therapy is currently legal. No law currently bans it, despite organizations such as the American Psychological Association denouncing it.
United States Equality Rank
#145
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