Cuyahoga County, Ohio, my home county, has lately been on the receiving end of some bad press. Season 3 of Serial just landed on your podcast app of choice, and it does not portray my county's criminal justice system in the most positive of lights.So, today, I thought I'd share something positive from Cuyahoga County.
Yesterday, the County Council passed legislation prohibiting LGBTQ discrimination in employment, as well as housing and public accommodations.
The legislation also creates the three-person Cuyahoga County Commission on Human Rights, which will hear discrimination complaints from individuals, and has the authority to issue civil penalties, award attorneys' fees, and order injunctive relief.
Cuyhoga County joins 20 other localities in Ohio with similar prohibitions. LGBTQ discrimination, however, is still legal statewide, as well as nationally (although courts and the EEOC are working hard to change that).
If you are a business in Cuyahoga County, Ohio, you need to stop discriminating against LGBTQ individuals. But you're already doing that, right? Because it's just flat out the right thing to do.
* Image via @ohiocitytweets