Ohio at 'notable risk' for LGBTQ+ inequality given lack of legal protections, report says

Watch a previous NBC4 report on Ohio's anti-LGBTQ+ bills in the video player above.

COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) -- LGBTQ+ people are at "notable risk" of experiencing inequality in Ohio given the state lacks nondiscrimination protections and has introduced a wave of bills targeting the community, a new report says.

Ohio was ranked 32nd in the nation for inclusion by Out Leadership's 2024 State LGBTQ+ Business Climate Index, an annual study assessing each U.S. state on markers like non-discrimination policies, healthcare accessibility, and if the state bans conversion therapy. The Buckeye State's score of 50.35 out of 100 is the same as last year, but still lower than in 2022 when it was given a score of 53.43 and ranked 31st. 

New York received the highest ranking, 93.67 points, for the fourth year in a row, while Arkansas again was given the lowest score of 27 -- the lowest score received by a state in the index's six-year history. Regionally, Ohio placed eighth in the Midwest, while Illinois and South Dakota took the top and lowest spots, respectively.

Out Leadership labeled Ohio as under "notable risk" for LGBTQ+ discrimination given an individual can be fired from their workplace, denied services and rejected or removed from housing based on their sexual orientation or gender identity under state law. The Buckeye State has also failed to install a ban on anti-LGBTQ+ conversion therapy and has not removed antiquated HIV criminalization laws passed in the 1980s. 

The report argues businesses are more likely to prosper if Ohio were to become a friendlier state to the community, noting that 6.2% of Ohio's population identifies as LGBTQ+ and earns a combined income of around $26 billion.

"When LGBTQ+ employees don't feel welcome at work, they're less likely to stay, and employee turnover is a drag on the state economy and business competitiveness," the report said.

"Ohio has a regressive attitude towards trans people when it comes to hate crimes and antidiscrimination protections, healthcare protections and changing gender markers on officials IDs," the index states. "Treating trans people as unequal makes us look complicit if we choose to do business in Ohio -- equality is good for everyone's bottom line."

It costs companies an average of $9,390 to replace an employee in Ohio and it can cost more than $428,000 to replace senior executives, Out Leadership found. The study also argued it's important for Ohio to "foster a business environment where being inclusive is supported" because 54% of Millennial and Gen Z consumers prefer to do business with companies who are LGBTQ+ friendly.

Still, for the second year in a row, the report said LGBTQ+ equality is decreasing across the U.S. The average score of all 50 states dropped from 63.48 in 2023 to 62.77 in 2024, a 1.12% decrease. The political and cultural environment in the U.S. "has become increasingly polarized with LGBTQ+-friendly states becoming increasingly inclusive while the worst states for equality become evermore hostile," wrote Todd Sears, Out Leaderhip's CEO, in the report.

"With each anti-LGBTQ+ policy, state leaders sacrifice concrete financial benefits for cheap political points," Sears said. "These laws arbitrarily involve policymakers in the affairs of private enterprises, preventing managers from placing the best employees in the right roles and undermining both consumer and investor confidence."

More than 500 anti-LGBTQ+ bills are moving through legislatures across the nation, continuing an unprecedented wave of legislation targeting LGBTQ+ people after 268 bills were introduced in 2021, 315 in 2022, and at least 510 in 2023.

In Ohio, a bill to ban gender-affirming care for transgender youth was set to go into effect in April before the ACLU filed a lawsuit against the measure on behalf of two families whose children are at risk of losing access to their healthcare. The bill is now on hold until July, when a hearing will be held for the ACLU's motion for a preliminary injunction.

The state's legislature has also furthered bills to ban drag queen performances in public and another to prohibit trans students from using restrooms aligned with their gender identity. Another piece of legislation to allow parents to opt their children out of "sexuality content" has already passed the Ohio House, and is heading for consideration in the Senate.  

"By targeting LGBTQ+ youth, these laws also impact families, forcing them to flee states and leave their jobs to keep their children safe," Sears said. "State leaders are choosing risk over stability and stagnation over prosperity -- an attack on our freedom to raise families and build businesses without the fear of unnecessary government intervention in our lives and work."