The Ides of March and other dramas-Diane Frank

Thanks to Debbie bringing it to the group’s attention, we were able to have three Alpha Omega Society members provide the only transgender representation at the March meeting of the Cleveland Stonewall Democrats. At this meeting, State Senator Dan Brady was soliciting input for his version of an Ohio Employment Non-Discrimination Act (ENDA).

The past history of transgender inclusion in ENDAs around the country is mixed. In NY there was a bitter and protracted fight that lead to the exclusion of transgender protection and a bitter rift between gay and transgender activists.

State Senator Dan Brady (D- Lakewood) is in his last term and is using the relative freedom this affords to promote, even if symbolically, issues that concern him. Our presence at the meeting engaged the support of other activists in attendance and Senator Brady received our comments in a respectful manner. However, we are disappointed to learn that Senator Brady has not included any transgender protections in his version of the bill (Gay People’s Chronicle, April 4th, 2003). It is not clear whether this was a policy decision as Brady had indicated his intent to cover the issues in a series of bills rather than in one large piece of legislation. On the other hand, State Representative and Minority Whip Dale Miller (also from the Westside of Cleveland) introduced an ENDA that according to Eric Resnick’s article in the Gay People’s Chronicle

" amends all sections of the Ohio Revised Code dealing with discrimination by adding "sexual orientation" everywhere other protected classes such as race, religion, and national origin are currently listed. In the bill, "sexual orientation" is defined as "heterosexuality, homosexuality, bisexuality, asexuality, or transgenderism, whether actual or perceived."

The areas of the law affected are those dealing with employment, labor organizations, housing, selling and renting, credit, financial assistance, and public accommodations such as hotels, restaurants or other commercial establishments open to the public.

Cosponsoring the bill are number legislators: State Reps. Dixie Allen of Dayton, Peter Ujvagi of Toledo, Catherine Barrett of Cincinnati, Joyce Beatty of Columbus, Michael Skindell of Lakewood, Dan Stewart of Columbus and Minority Leader Chris Redfern of Port Clinton. All are Democrats.

Miller spokesperson Sally Rickert noted that State Rep. Shirley Smith of Cleveland, also a Democrat, contacted Miller’s office to be added as a co-sponsor shortly after the deadline.

Members of the State Government committee to which the bill was assigned are Democrats Annie Key of Cleveland, John Boccieri of New Middleton, Dean DePiero of Parma, and Sylvester Patton of Youngstown, as well as Stewart.

Chairing the committee is Republican Jim Carmichael of Wooster. Other Republicans on the committee are Steve Reinhard of Bucyrus, Stephen Buehrer of Delta, Gary Cates of West Chester, Patricia Clancy of Cincinnati, Larry Flowers of Canal Winchester, Jim Hughes of Columbus, Jon Peterson of Delaware, and James Trakas of Independence.

While our interest in this bill is primarily to ensure that legal off-the-job gender expression cannot be used as a grounds for being fired, other aspects may be of concern to some Alpha Omega members and other sections of the transgender community.

Diane Sofia Frank, Laura Miller and Debbie Benton attended this meeting.