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Advocates for two proposed initiatives in Ohio that aim to win the same recognition for same-sex “marriage” that other married couples have and protect equal rights have officially begun collecting the thousands of signatures needed to put the proposals on the 2026 ballot.
According to Dayton Daily News, the initiatives were originally one proposed constitutional amendment, which was approved by Ohio Attorney General Dave Yost, a Republican, in early July. Shortly after the initiative’s approval, the Ohio Ballot Board decided that it contained two separate proposed amendments and separated it into two proposals.
The first proposal attempts to protect several classes from discrimination, including “race, color, creed or 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 and veteran status.”
The second would overturn a section of Ohio’s constitution that states “Only a union between one man and one woman may be a marriage valid in or recognized by this state and its political subdivisions.” According to the Ohio Capital Journal, the official recognition of marriage as between one man and one woman was added to the state constitution in 2004 after 61.7% of voters approved it.
Dayton Daily News reported that the proposed amendment would replace Ohio’s current constitutional stance on marriage with a mandate that the state “shall recognize and treat equally all marriages regardless of race, sex, or gender identity.”
“The amendment would, however, give individual clergy the option to refuse to ‘solemnize’ marriages of their choosing,” the outlet noted.
Advocates for the initiatives now are required to collect at least as many signatures as equals 10% of the vote cast in the most recent gubernatorial election, which the Ohio Capital Journal reported is 413,487 signatures from at least 44 of the state’s 88 counties. If the signatures are gathered, the proposals may head to the ballot next year.
According to the Ohio Capital Journal, “A 2023 Public Religion Research Institute study showed 76% of Ohioans are in favor of non-discrimination LGBTQ+ laws.”
