Ohio Governor John Kasich has signed a
job protections order that includes sexual orientation, but not
gender identity.
Kasich faced criticism for allowing a
previous order, signed by Democratic Governor Ted Strickland, that
covered both sexual orientation and gender identity to expire.
The Republican signed his new order on
January 21, Cleveland-based
bi-weekly Gay
People's Chronicle
reported.
The new order bans workplace
discrimination in state employment based on several factors,
including sexual orientation.
The paper noted that Kasich signed the
order on a Friday and without much fanfare.
Kasich spokesman Rob Nichols would not
specifically address why gender identity was dropped from the order.
“The governor is opposed to
discrimination in state employment and has made that clear in this
executive order in the way that he feels is most appropriate,”
Nichols told the paper in an email.
Nichols declined to comment when the
paper asked, “So by that you mean the governor does not feel it is
appropriate to protect transgender state employees from employment
discrimination?”
The American Civil Liberties Union of
Ohio has urged the governor to reconsider.