Ohio's Equality Profile

Quick Facts About Ohio

Percent of Adults (18+) Who are LGBT
6.2%
Williams 2023
LGBT Adult Population (18+)
557,600
Williams 2023
Percent of LGBTQ Adults (25+) Raising Children
30%
Gallup/Williams 2019
LGBT Youth Population (13-17)
92,100
Williams 2020; Williams 2025
Total LGBTQ Workers
298,000
Williams 2020

State LGBTQ Organizations

Looking for LGBTQ organizations in your state? Try these directories:

Equality Federation members
CenterLink LGBTQ community centers
PFLAG chapters

Ohio's LGBTQ Policy Score

OH

Sexual Orientation Policy Score

4.75/23

Low

Gender Identity Policy Score

-3/26

Negative

Overall Score

1.75/49

Low

Learn More

Ohio's LGBTQ Laws and Policies

Click on each issue for more information and to see where the state fits into the national landscape.

key

State Nondiscrimination Laws Sexual Orientation Gender Identity
Law Exists? Score Law Exists? Score

As a result of a June 2020 U.S. Supreme Court ruling, people in all states can seek recourse for employment discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity through the federal Equal Employment Opportunity Commission and federal courts.

0.75/1 0.75/1
0.75/1 0.75/1
0.75/1 0.75/1
0.75/1 0.75/1
0.5/0.5 0.5/0.5
No Negative Law 0/-1 No Negative Law 0/-1
Negative Law -0.5/-1
Negative Law -1/-1
Subtotal 3.5/4.5 2/4.5
Nondiscrimination Total 5.5/9
*If state lacks statewide law, tally looks at local Nondiscrimination ordinances in employment, housing, and public accommodations and provides partial points based on percent of LGBTQ population covered by local laws.
Religious Exemption Laws Sexual Orientation Gender Identity
Law Exists? Score Law Exists? Score
No Negative Law 0/-0.5 No Negative Law 0/-0.5
No Negative Law 0/-1 No Negative Law 0/-1
Negative Law -1/-1 Negative Law -1/-1
No Negative Law 0/-0.5
No Negative Law 0/-0.5
Subtotal -1/-3.5 -1/-2.5
Religious Exemptions Total -2/-6
Criminal Justice Laws and Policies Sexual Orientation Gender Identity
Law Exists? Score Law Exists? Score
0/1 0/1
0/1 0/1
0/1 0/1
Negative Law -1/-1 Negative Law -1/-1
No Negative Law 0/-1 No Negative Law 0/-1
Subtotal -1/3 -1/3
Criminal Justice Total -2/6
Ability for Transgender People to Correct Name and Gender Marker on Identity Documents Sexual Orientation Gender Identity
Law Exists? Score Law Exists? Score
0.75/1
0/1
0/1
0/0.5
0/0.5
Subtotal 0/0 0.75/4
Identity Documents Total 0.75/4
Grand Totals Sexual Orientation
Policy Score
Gender Identity
Policy Score
Overall Score
Totals 4.75/23 -3/26 1.75/49
Ratings Low Negative Low

Ohio Local Ordinances

Local Nondiscrimination Ordinances

Sexual Orientation

31%

of population fully protected

2%

of population only partially protected

legend

State Protections

County Protections

City Protections

No Protections

Protections Banned

County map only shows areas with full protections for sexual orientation (i.e., discrimination prohibited in private employment, housing, and public accommodations)

City and County Numbers:

1 counties out of 88 have an ordinance prohibiting discrimination based on sexual orientation in private employment, housing, and public accommodations (full protections).

40 cities have an ordinance prohibiting discrimination based on sexual orientation in private employment, housing, and public accommodations (full protections).

16 municipality, not including those listed above, has an ordinance prohibiting discrimination based on sexual orientation in private employment, housing, or public accommodations (only partial protections). See table below.

31% of the state population is protected against discrimination based on sexual orientation in private employment, housing, and public accommodations (full protections).

An additional 2% of the state population is protected against discrimination based on sexual orientation in private employment, housing, or public accommodations (only partial protections).

Gender Identity

31%

of population fully protected

1%

of population only partially protected

legend

State Protections

County Protections

City Protections

No Protections

Protections Banned

County map only shows areas with full protections for gender identity (i.e., discrimination prohibited in private employment, housing, and public accommodations)

City and County Numbers:

1 counties out of 88 have an ordinance prohibiting discrimination based on gender identity in private employment, housing, and public accommodations (full protections).

40 cities have an ordinance prohibiting discrimination based on gender identity in private employment, housing, and public accommodations (full protections).

8 municipality, not including those listed above, has an ordinance prohibiting discrimination based on gender identity in private employment, housing, or public accommodations (only partial protections). See table below.

31% of the state population is protected against discrimination based on gender identity in private employment, housing, and public accommodations (full protections).

An additional 1% of the state population is protected against discrimination based on gender identity in private employment, housing, or public accommodations (only partial protections).

City and County Listing:

Fully inclusive
SO/GI protections
Local Sexual Orientation Protections Local Gender Identity Protections
Employment Housing Public Accom. Employment Housing Public Accom.
Cuyahoga County
Akron
Amberley Village
Athens
Beachwood
Bexley
Bowling Green
Brook Park
Canton
Chauncey
Cincinnati
Cleveland
Cleveland Heights
Columbus
Coshocton
Cuyahoga Heights
Dayton
Dublin
East Cleveland
Euclid
Galion
Gambier
Garfield Heights
Golf Manor
Grove City
Hilliard
Kent
Lakewood
Linndale
Lorain
Maple Heights
Medina
Newark
Newburgh Heights
North Olmsted
Oberlin
Olmsted Falls
Oxford
Portsmouth
Reminderville
Reynoldsburg
Sandusky
Shaker Heights
Sheffield Lake
South Euclid
Springfield
Steubenville
Toledo
University Heights
Upper Arlington
Warrensville Heights
Westerville
Whitehall
Wickliffe
Worthington
Yellow Springs
Youngstown

- Local ordinance does not provide this protection, but county/state does

- Local ordinance provides this protection

NOTE: Only jurisdictions with ordinances that prohibit discrimination in private employment are listed. Other localities may have executive orders that apply to government employees and these are not listed. The level of enforcement of these ordinances may vary by jurisdiction. This information is constantly changing, and we welcome suggestions for additions or changes. For questions regarding ordinances or any other aspect of the state profile, please contact MAP at info@mapresearch.org.

Local Conversion Therapy Ordinances

Conversion Therapy Bans

28%

of population protected by local laws

legend

State Protections

County Protections

City Protections

No Protections

Protections Banned

Note: Counties with * have county or local bans. These municipalities are also listed below.

City and County Numbers:

1 counties out of 88 have an ordinance prohibiting conversion therapy for minors.

15 cities have an ordinance prohibiting conversion therapy for minors.

Akron
Athens
Cincinnati
Cleveland
Cleveland Heights
Columbus
Dayton
Kent
Lakewood
Lorain
Reynoldsburg
Oberlin
Toledo
Westerville
Whitehall
Cuyahoga County