(The Center Square) – A push to enshrine nondiscriminatory rights in the Ohio Constitution took a step forward and now moves into what’s proven to be the most difficult phase for potential amendments.
In order to add the Equal Rights Amendment to the constitution, organizers must gather nearly 450,000 valid signatures after Attorney General Dave Yost certified the title and summary of the proposed amendment.
On Monday, Secretary of State Frank LaRose scheduled a Ballot Board meeting for Wednesday to certify the potential ballot measure contains only one question to put before voters.
“This is about securing the fundamental right of every Ohioan to be treated with dignity, fairness, and equality under the law,” Liz Schmidt, a lead organizer for Ohio Equal Rights, said in a statement. “Our state constitution should reflect the values of inclusion and justice that Ohioans hold dear. This amendment ensures no one can be singled out or left behind because of who they are.”
Organizers say the amendment is necessary because Ohio’s Constitutional does not prohibit discrimination based on race, color, creed, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression regardless of sex assigned at birth, pregnancy status, genetic information, disease status, age, disability, recovery status, familial status, ancestry, national origin or military or veteran status. Federal protections for many of those areas do exist.
The amendment would also repeal Ohio’s ban on same-sex marriages.
Yost accepted the title and summary.
“The submitted title and summary comply with Section 3519.01(A) as interpreted by the federal courts,” Yost said in a response letter sent to the group. “This certification should not be construed as an affirmation of the enforceability, constitutionality, or wisdom of the proposed amendment.”
Ohio Equal Rights must now collect at least 44,958 valid signatures from registered Ohio voters in at least 44 of the state’s 88 counties 65 days before the election to appear on the November ballot.
