News (USA)

Ohio group seeking to overturn gay marriage ban to launch petition for gay rights act

Ohio group seeking to overturn gay marriage ban to launch petition for gay rights act

COLUMBUS, Ohio — A group pushing to have voters overturn Ohio’s gay marriage ban says it is also collecting signatures to bar discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation in employment and housing.

Ian James, executive director of FreedomOhio, says the organization plans to begin circulating a petition for the Equal Housing and Employment Act.

The initiated statute effort takes time and multiple steps, starting with the group needing to collect roughly 116,000 valid signatures to get the idea before state lawmakers.

The General Assembly then would have four months to act on the proposed law. Depending on that outcome, another petition could be circulated to get the proposal before voters.

James’ announcement Friday came the same day a federal judge said he will order Ohio to recognize out-of-state gay marriages.

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