A group of Ohio businesses is working together to promote nondiscrimination against LGBTQ employees. More than 200 businesses have signed on, including a number in Central Ohio.
it鈥檚 illegal for businesses to fire employees based on things like race, religion, sex, or disability status "without just cause." But it is technically legal to fire someone for being gay or transgender.
Some cities, like Akron and Lakewood, have passed ordinances extending protected status to LGBT people. But the nonpartisan group is asking businesses themselves to commit to nondiscrimination in the workplace.
鈥淚f we apply a cookie cutter approach that says, 鈥榊ou identify as X therefore we don鈥檛 have room for you,鈥� I actually feel as though that鈥檚 detrimental to the discussion and dialogue and the solutions we鈥檙e trying to build," says Jason Rudman, an executive vice president at who identifies as gay.
Businesses that join the coalition to "achieving nondiscrimination policies at the state level."
Rudman says enforcing diversity in the workplace is good for business.
鈥淣o Ohioans鈥� fundamental rights should be determined by what city or what county they live in,鈥� said JoDee Winterhof of the Human Rights Campaign
Among the Central Ohio businesses that have are Abercrombie & Fitch, Bob Evans, OhioHealth, Donatos and AT&T.
