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Take Action: Ask Your Rep. to Vote Yes on HB 176
With a vote of 8 to 5, House Bill 176, the Equal Housing and Employment Act, passed out of State Government Committee in the Ohio House of Representatives on Wednesday, June 17, 2009. Voting yes were Gerberry, Lundy, Belcher, Williams B., Stewart, Mallory, Sayre, and Hite with Stebelton, Grossman, Adams, Daniels and Hall casting no votes. The bill now moves to consideration by the entire House of Representatives. A vote is not yet scheduled. It is time to call your Representative and ask them to vote YES on HB 176, the Equal Housing and Employment Act.
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Why it is important to do this now?
Never before in Ohio history has there been a vote on the floor of either the House or Senate on a pro-equality issue. We are on the verge a historic vote on the floor of the House. |
David Miller of Citizens for Community Values testifies in Opponent Testimony. |
It is time to do what's right, Ohio! And we need to ask our legislators to do what's right. We have repeatedly heard that our legislators do pay attention when we contact them. If nothing else, they are counting how many people contact them who are pro-equality and how many contact them who are anti-equality. We need to make sure they hear from us!
Is your legislator already supportive?
Use our talking points found here to write to your local paper and submit a letter to the editor. Please see your local paper's requirements for those letters. And then send it to us so we can include it in what we provide to the legislature.
Take action now and then ask your friends and family members to do the same. Join with us in strongly declaring that Ohioans deserve to feel safe in their jobs and their communities.
| Sample Letter for Campaign |
Subject: Vote Yes on HB 176
Dear [ Decision Maker ] ,
As your constituent, I am urging you to please vote YES on H.B. 176, the Equal Housing and Employment Act.
It is time that sexual orientation and gender identity were added as protected classes under our Ohio Civil Rights law.
No one should have to fear discrimination where they live, work or play because they are lesbian, gay, bisexual, straight or transgender. Unfortunately, this is still an all too common occurance in our state. You have the power to change that with your vote.
I believe that it is good public policy for the state of Ohio to pass an anti-discrimination law addressing sexual orientation and gender identity. I hope you will agree with me and vote YES on H.B. 176.
Everyone should feel safe in the state we call home.
Sincerely,
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Campaign Launched:
June 10, 2009
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