- Homosexuality
- ⚢✔ Legal
- Gay Marriage
- ⚭✔ Legal
- Censorship
- ✔ No censorship
- Changing Gender
- ✔ Legal, surgery not required
- Non-binary gender recognition
- ✔ Recognized
- Discrimination
- ✖ No protections
- Employment Discrimination
- ✔ Sexual orientation and gender identity
- Housing Discrimination
- ✖ No protections
- Adoption
- ✔ Legal
- Military
- ✔ Legal
- Donating Blood
- ✖ Banned (3-month deferral)
- Conversion Therapy
- ✖ Not banned
- Age of Consent
- ✔ Equal
Suggest Public Opinion Data
Until May 2021
Public Opinion
Support for LGBT protections by US state ?
Ranked #1 out of 50 regions surveyed. (Source: PRRI, 2018)
Favor (68%)
Opposition of religiously based refusals to serve gay and lesbian people ?
Ranked #1 out of 50 regions surveyed. (Source: PRRI, 2018)
Oppose (60%)
Support of same-sex marriage by US state ?
Ranked #30 out of 51 regions surveyed. (Source: Pew Research, 2014)
(42%) Oppose
Favor (50%)
Support of homosexuality by US state ?
Ranked #27 out of 51 regions surveyed. (Source: Pew Research, 2014)
(32%) Oppose
Support (60%)
History
Homosexual activity in Ohio is legal.
Current status
Since Jun 26, 2003
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
Since Jun 26, 2015
Legal
The US Supreme Court rules that same-sex marriage is legal nationwide.
Not legal
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, surgery not required.
Current status
Since May 2021
Since May 2021
Legal, surgery not required
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.
Legal recognition of non-binary gender in Ohio is recognized.
Current status
Since May 2021
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
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
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 Sep 20, 2011
Since Sep 20, 2011
Legal
Don't Ask, Don't Tell is officially repealed throughout the United States, and gays and lesbians may openly serve.
Blood donations by MSMs in Ohio is banned (3-month deferral).
Current status
Since Apr 2, 2020
Since Apr 2, 2020
Banned (3-month deferral)
Blood donation centers follow the new FDA 3-month deferral guidance.
Banned (1-year deferral)
Blood donation centers followed the non-binding FDA one year deferral guidance.
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.