Press Conference: Ohio Is Home Collation Partners
Dec. 13, 2023 | 10:30 AM
Ladies Gallery, Ohio Statehouse, 1 Capitol Square, Columbus, Ohio 43215
Good Morning…
My name is Densil Porteous, I use he/they pronouns.
Here in Ohio I help guide an LGBTQ+ community organization, here in Ohio I have been called a community activist, here in Ohio I help lead an LGBTQ+ focused venture fund, here in Ohio I have the pleasure of serving as a member of the Human Rights Campaign’s national board of directors, here in Ohio I married my husband and we are raising our child…so, make no mistake–Ohio Is Home, and I “we” will not be legislated to leave.
United against every piece of anti-LGBTQ+ legislation being proposed by the legislative body in this statehouse, we gather today to tell legislators “Ohio is our home” and we will not stand by as you try to pass legislation which threatens the lives of LGBTQ+ Ohioans–present and future.
We are not alone!
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The Human Rights Campaign’s Count Us In pledge for full LGBTQ+ equality, which asks employers and business allies to reaffirm their support of LGBTQ+ inclusion and equality, has been signed by over 100 large sized businesses, which included many with a presence in Ohio. I want to share this specific section of the pledge:
“We are working hard to ensure our LGBTQ+ employees and their families are safe and have access to the benefits and care they need and deserve. We support our LGBTQ+ employees, customers, and clients to be able to enjoy the full rights and privileges we all are guaranteed as Americans. Some lawmakers are making this impossible. That’s wrong and anti-business.”
Additionally, the Human Rights Campaign’s Business Statement on Anti-LGBTQ State Legislation, which was first released in early 2020 has since quadrupled sign on size, now featuring over 330 large businesses that oppose efforts to enact discriminatory legislation. Many of these businesses have operations in the state of Ohio. I quote the following section from the statement:
“These bills would harm our team members and their families, stripping them of opportunities and making them feel unwelcome and at risk in their own communities. As such, it can be exceedingly difficult for us to recruit the most qualified candidates for jobs in states that pursue such laws, and these measures can place substantial burdens on the families of our employees who already reside in these states. Legislation promoting discrimination directly affects our businesses–whether or not it occurs in the workplace.”
Let me say this clearly, so I won’t have to repeat myself:
- We aren’t going anywhere.
- Ohio is our Home.
- And anti-LGBTQ+ legislation is bad for Ohio!
