At a press conference with representatives from the business community, including the OMA, state Reps. Brett Hudson Hillyer (R-Uhrichsville) and Michael Skindell (D-Lakewood) this week unveiled House Bill 369. Titled the Ohio Fairness Act, the bill would add sexual orientation and gender identity to the list of protected groups under current Ohio’s anti-discrimination law, which prohibits discrimination against a person’s characteristics such as race, gender, and disability. OMA member and former state Rep. Ross McGregor, who in the past championed the proposal, said the legislation is important for workforce development efforts as employers, such as his company, compete for a new generation of workers. Hannah News Service quoted McGregor as saying: “That’s why you’ll see this list of businesses and business groups that have put their names down as saying this is important. We didn’t have that in 2009.” 10/17/2019