Cleveland’s city ordinances already prohibit employment discrimination based on sexual orientation. As of this week, you can add “gender identity and expression” to Cleveland’s expansive list of protected classes. Violations carry a potential $1,000 fine and 30-day jail sentence.
Cleveland’s ordinance may be foreshadowing of broader state and federal legislation, both of which would grant protected status for sexual orientation and gender identity:
- Ohio House passes bill banning sexual orientation discrimination; fight moves to Senate
- Do you know? Sexual orientation and gender identity discrimination
- ENDA Now “Top Priority” for Obama Administration (courtesy of Paul Secunda at the Workplace Prof Blog)
For now, if you are an employer located in the City of Cleveland, at a minimum you should amend your EEO and anti-discrimination policies to cover gender identity.
Presented by Kohrman Jackson & Krantz, with offices in Cleveland and Columbus. For more information, contact Jon Hyman, a partner in our Labor & Employment group, at (216) 736-7226 or jth@kjk.com.