A two -sided group of legislators at Ohio House introduced a bill that would first establish a category of “hate crimes” in Ohio.
HB 306 He strives to “prohibit hate crimes and create a civil means for a terrorized person by another because of specific features or beliefs.” People who have committed a hate crime may be necessary to pay a fine of up to USD 25,000.
The main sponsors of the Act are representatives. Dontavius ​​Jarrells (D-Cumbus) and Josh Williams (R-Sylvania Twp.). The HB 306 contains 26 co -consonants: 15 Republicans and 11 Democrats.
Special features or protected beliefs are the unit:
- Political affiliation
- Breed, color, religion, gender, national origin or origin
- Age, family status, military status or disability
- The position of a person in a job dispute
- The belief that a person has any features or beliefs above.
In particular, there is no specific features on the list: sexual orientation, sexual identity and gender expression.
One of Bill’s democratic components claims that the Act protects LGBTQ+ Ohioans. LGBTQ+ disagree.
Origin and intentions
Rep. Jarrells told Buckeye Flame that HB 306 was introduced after one of his voters – a black woman – he was spitting by a white man, who then gave way to her racial epithets.
“He just didn’t want this woman to exist,” said Jarrells.
Because the updated Ohio code refers only to hate crimes that include religious persecution, Jarrells said that he examined the provisions on hate crimes in other states and finally came to work with Rep. Williams. Jarrells said that the key to this double -sided approach was the creation of an invoice, which can actually get support from both sides of the political crossing in the completely divided Ohio house.
“We want this bill to be able to go so that the experience of this black woman does not happen again,” said Jarrells.
Jarrells said that the decision not to determine the identity of LGBTQ+ on the list of protected classes was part of the attempt not to make the bill too “adapted or narrow”.
But Jarrells insists that LGBTQ+ identity should be covered by the word “sex”. He said that the decision in Bostock against Clayton County – A breakthrough case of the Supreme Court, which has expanded protection to transgender employees in companies with 15 or more employees – supports this interpretation.
“We were really intended to make sure that this account reflects the integration interpretation,” said Jarrells. “But do it in the way the bill is not politicized, because hatred is hatred, regardless of whether you are black, white, Jewish, religious or gay.”
All categories of Jarrells mentioned other than “cheerful” are specially listed in the bill.
Rep. Williams did not answer our request for a comment on whether he shares the interpretation of the word “sex” by Jarrell.
“Naive and short -sighted”
Proponents of LGBTQ+ say that the omission of the words “sexual orientation”, “gender identity” and “sex expression” will omit LGBTQ+ Ohioans from the protection of HB 306 to ensure.
Sarah Moore, analyst Glaad Anti-LGBTQ+ Extretism, said that every bill in order to solve problems with hatred and prejudice must contain clear and comprehensive protection of LGBTQ+.
“Ohioans LGBTQ already encounter discrimination and violence based on who they are, including threats to personal security, which create dangerous environments for every ohioan,” said Moore.
Moore emphasizes that these LGBTQ+ security are particularly needed, taking into account that 100 anti-LGBTQ incidents reported in Glaad. Tracking anti-LGBTQ extremism reporting (alert) From 2022 in Ohio alone.
“LGBTQ hate crime allows victims to seek justice and help researchers to follow anti-LGBTQ violence, and this helps to manage basic resources to protect the most sensitive in our communities,” said Moore.
Other supporters of LGBTQ+ say Jarrells will apply Bostock To sum up that the HB 306 includes LGBTQ+ identity can be reasonable, but in the last few years it would be unreasonable, taking into account the achievements in Ohio The Anti-LGBTQ+.
Maria Bruno, executive director of a group of spokespersons Ohioani against extremism And the lawyer said that the purpose of codifying specific LGBTQ+ security is “an unambiguous explanation of the scope of the law application.”
“It would be naive and short-sighted-if not an illusion-would be beneficial from the doubts of the legislator, who in the last four years gave his mission to aim at LGBTQ+ Ohioans in every aspect of their lives,” Bruno said. “There is no reason to assume that the same legislators suddenly, by default, intended to codify LGBTQ protection+ ohioans.”
For his part, Jarrells recognized this political climate Anti-LGBTQ+.
“Things that my colleagues do with trance rights are repulsive and I will fight with these things,” he said.
In the current proposed OHIO budget, which has already passed Ohio’s house, there is an amendment that would establish a policy of the state of Ohio in order to “recognize two sexes, men and women” and that “these sexes are not variable and are based on basic and undeniable reality.”
Legal analysts Equality of ohio He said it was an attempt to “codify the opposite of what Bostock [decided]. “Still, there is the impression that HB 306 at least represents more security than at present, even if all these safeguards are not clearly articulated.
“As a black gay, I am glad that Statehouse takes a step towards finally defining the law about hate crimes in Ohio,” said Dwayne Steward, executive director of Equality Ohio. “A lot of time is coming. I will be excited about the support of this project if our legislators are able to make sure that it will protect us all from hatred.”
Going forward
Even other legislators have a problem with HB 306. Rep. Tristan Rader (D-shelawood) said that he strongly supports the protection of hate crimes, but he has concerns about the bill, which “increases the penalty without taking into account the reform of the conviction or the impact of excessive players.”
He also emphasized the lack of a specific language for LGBTQ+.
“This is an unacceptable omission when these communities remain frequent goals of hatred,” said Rader.
Jarrells hopes that talks with representatives such as Rader will create a better understanding. He said that “terrifying and useless” would be to say that HB 306 is not the inclusion of LGBTQ+. He points to 26 account co -conservators as a sign of hope in Ohio.
“For us, that we have this two -sided account with so many republicans, I really believe that finally for the first time, when this bill goes to the right, we can build in Ohio, where you can finally fix justice,” said Jarrells.
HB 306 was assigned to the Judicial Chamber on May 28 and is now waiting for the scheduled interrogation. Ding
Light
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