A group trying to repeal Ohio’s ban on gay marriage in the state’s constitution is one step closer to getting on the 2026 ballot.
Ohio Equal Rights, a grassroots movement, submitted 2,000 signatures to Ohio Secretary of State Frank LaRose on June 30 and Ohio Attorney General Dave Yost certified the title and summary language on July 3. They needed to submit 1,000 valid signatures from registered Ohio voters.
“This certification should not be construed as an affirmation of the enforceability, constitutionality, or wisdom of the proposed amendment,” Yost said in a response letter to the petitioners. “Those matters are left for a different forum and another day.”
The Ohio Equal Rights Amendment would protect citizens from discrimination based on 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, according to their website.
“This is about securing the fundamental right of every Ohioan to be treated with dignity, fairness, and equality under the law,” said Liz Schmidt, a lead organizer for Ohio Equal Rights. “Our state constitution should reflect the values of inclusion and justice that Ohioans hold dear. This amendment ensures no one can be singled out or left behind because of who they are.”
Organizers say the proposed amendment would be the most comprehensive equal rights amendment in the country.
Ohio’s constitution includes a ban on same-sex marriage after 61.7% of Ohio voters approved an amendment in 2004 that says marriage is only between one man and one woman. The United States Supreme Court legalized gay marriage in 2015.
The Ohio Ballot Board must now determine if the proposal contains only one constitutional amendment. If the board certifies the proposal, organizers can start collecting signatures. They would need to collect 413,487 signatures from at least 44 of Ohio’s 88 counties — 10% of the total vote cast for governor during the last gubernatorial election. The signatures would then need to be verified by the Ohio Secretary of State’s Office.
A 2023 Public Religion Research Institute study showed 76% of Ohioans are in favor of non-discrimination LGBTQ+ laws.
This story was originally published by the Ohio Capital Journal and republished here with permission.
This article appears in Jun 25 – Jul 8, 2025.