Ohio

COLUMBUS, Ohio -- The Ohio Democratic Party is asking marriage-supporting donors for money to help “pass a referendum recognizing equality,” but leaders haven’t endorsed the only effort under way in the state to put the issue on the ballot for voters. [ Read more → ]

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- A Cleveland City Council member has called on authorities to investigate as a hate crime the death of a 20-year-old transgender woman whose body was found in a northeastern Ohio pond in April and identified this week. [ Read more → ]

COLUMBUS, Ohio — The Roman Catholic bishop in central Ohio says the firing of a gay teacher at a Columbus Catholic school was based not on her sexual orientation but on the need to maintain the institution's marriage values. [ Read more → ]

COLUMBUS, Ohio -- Her grievance denied by the Bishop Watterson High School principal who signed her termination letter, Carla Hale said Wednesday morning that she will take her case against the Catholic Diocese of Columbus to the city’s Community Relations Commission. [ Read more → ]

COLUMBUS, Ohio -- A popular Columbus, Ohio, physical education teacher and coach who says she was fired because she is gay, has filed a grievance through her union against the Catholic Diocese of Columbus, according to her attorney. [ Read more → ]

COLUMBUS, Ohio -- Students at Bishop Watterson High School in Columbus, Ohio, are fighting for a longtime physical education teacher and coach they say was been fired by the Catholic Diocese of Columbus because she’s gay. [ Read more → ]

CLEVELAND, Ohio — Organizers for the 2014 Gay Games scheduled next year in Ohio have landed two major sponsors for the event, including the first to pay for its name in the title. [ Read more → ]

MONTGOMERY, Ohio — A fellow Cincinnati area Republican says that while he respects Sen. Rob Portman, he disagrees with Portman's new stand in support of gay marriage. [ Read more → ]

COLUMBUS, Ohio -- Eight years after Ohio voters banned gay and lesbian couples from getting married, a new Columbus Dispatch poll finds majority now supports their right to legally wed. [ Read more → ]

COLUMBUS, Ohio -- Ohio Gov. John Kasich misspoke when he told a Cincinnati television station that he supports civil unions for gay and lesbian couples, his spokesman said Thursday. [ Read more → ]

U.S. House Speaker John Boehner (R-Ohio) says he cannot imagine a situation where his opposition to same-sex marriage would change, not even if a child of his or another loved one came out as gay. [ Read more → ]

CINCINNATI, Ohio -- Organizers of Cincinnati's St. Patrick' Day parade have banned the Gay, Lesbian and Straight Education Network (GLSEN) from participating in the annual event because they don't want any gay and lesbian groups marching in a "Catholic event." [ Read more → ]

COLUMBUS, Ohio -- The chairman of the Ohio Republican Party says the state GOP will continue to stand behind U.S. Sen. Rob Portman, who has announced his support of marriage equality for gays and lesbians. [ Read more → ]

WASHINGTON -- Conservative U.S. Sen. Rob Portman (R-Ohio), announced Thursday he has reversed his longtime opposition to same-sex marriage, saying he has evolved on the issue after learning two years ago that his now 21-year-old son, Will, is gay. [ Read more → ]

COLUMBUS, Ohio -- A municipal court judge in Columbus, Ohio, has ordered owners of a private dining and business networking club to pay a $1,000 fine in the city’s first-ever transgender discrimination case. [ Read more → ]

COLUMBUS, Ohio — A gay U.S. soldier who was booed during a Republican presidential debate in 2011 has joined the effort to overturn Ohio's ban on same-sex marriage. [ Read more → ]

The Ohio State University men’s hockey team has released a video in support the “You Can Play” equality project, which endeavors to foster equality, respect and safety for all athletes, regardless of sexual orientation. [ Read more → ]

CINCINNATI — An assistant principal at a Catholic school in Cincinnati has been fired over a blog post he wrote in support of same-sex marriage. [ Read more → ]

The mayor of a southeastern Ohio town has resigned over accusations that she repeatedly called a gay police officer "queer" in front of his colleagues and created a hostile work environment. [ Read more → ]

COLUMBUS, Ohio — Four organizations serving the needs of Ohioans living with AIDS or HIV-related diseases have won approval from the state for grants totaling more than $1.2 million. [ Read more → ]