COLUMBUS, Ohio — Gay rights supports are celebrating a history-making victory: A ruling from the Supreme Court that gay, lesbian and transgender workers cannot be discriminated against on the job.
One central Ohio woman knows the importance of that protection firsthand.
Jimmie Beall has been on the frontlines of the fight for equality for nearly two decades.
In 2015, she and her wife Mindy were the first same-sex couple to get a marriage license in Franklin County.
"When they ruled in favor of marriage, we had a lot of people who thought, that's it now. You're all good now. We were like no- we can get married, and we can still be fired," she said.
She knows this, because she lived it.
In 2003, she was fired from her public-school teaching job because it was suspected she was gay.
Monday, the Supreme Court ruled such a termination, violates the law.
"The Supreme Court- in a decision written not by a liberal justice, but a conservative justice- quote: ‘An individual's homosexuality or transgender status is not relevant to employment decisions.’ It doesn't get more authoritative than that," Ohio State law professor Marc Spindelman said.
He says it's not just the court's ruling that's striking, but also its clear, unmistakable message.
"Here the decision is- it's time to recognize that lesbians gay men and trans people are first class citizens, entitled to equal dignity and worth and status under law,” he said.
"This decision tells us when the Constitution is scrutinized, there is a place for LGBT people in the Constitution,” said Ohio state Senator Nickie Antonio. “There have been days when we haven't been sure about that. So this definitely tells us that we are also a part of ‘We the people.’”
Antonio is the sponsor of the Fairness Act. It would outlaw discrimination based on sexuality and gender identity in employment, housing and public accommodations.
She calls Monday's ruling very significant, but not the final fix.
"This is a decision just about employment…whereas what the Fairness Bill, my bill, Senate Bill 11, calls for, is protections for LGBTQ folks across the board, where they work, live and play,” she said.
For Jimmie and Mindy Beall, this ruling is momentous, and emotional.
"That people like us don't have to go through what she went through, getting fired from her job, what I went through, living in fear the whole time I was working as a teacher,” said Mindy. “What if somebody found out I was gay? Because I knew I would get fired if they did."
"And you really think about the people who struggled and fought before you, and that they're not here,” said Jimmie. “They're not here to taste that victory, and we are. How grateful I am."
The Ohio Fairness Act has had hearings in the House and Senate.
After years of failing to get to the finish line, Antonio hopes this ruling could provide momentum toward its passage.
Not everyone is celebrating the ruling.
The Ohio-based Citizens for Community Values said:
“The insurmountable harm done to women and girls today by the U.S. Supreme Court is devastating. It’s perhaps only matched by the harm done to voters, who elect leaders to make policy, not judges.”
“By a 6-3 decision, Justices Gorsuch, Roberts, Breyer, Ginsburg, Sotomayor and Kagan have put the privacy, safety, and equal opportunities of women at risk. Today’s decision by the Court will create more litigation, not less, and put businesses in the untenable position of defending themselves in court against frivolous and baseless lawsuits because of a vague and chaotic court opinion.”
Alana Jochum, Executive Director of Equality Ohio, released the following statement in response to the news:
“In the middle of battling this epidemic while demonstrating nationwide support for Black Lives, we are thankful and heartened by good news from the Supreme Court. This ruling means that LGBTQ people have protections against employment discrimination under federal law.
This is the first step of a journey and only applies to federal employment laws. LGBTQ Ohioans need the same protections here in Ohio, as well as protection against discrimination in housing and public accommodations, like stores and hotels.
We all know our lawmakers have much work ahead of them as we discover, together, how we live in the world we are creating. But I believe that these ideals—treating people fairly and giving everyone an honest opportunity to provide for themselves and their family—are worth fighting for. That means passing the Ohio Fairness Act. That means including everyone in our civil rights protections. When Ohio opens back up for business as usual, we should open business for all.
Although we are happy for this small victory, here at home, Ohio needs to undo the harms of systemic racism, including discrimination and violence against Black Ohioans and all people of color, including those who are LGBTQ. We applaud today’s decision, but we know that Black LGBTQ people will continue to face disproportionate discrimination and violence throughout their lives. This decision will not change that, and we must continue to change hearts and minds to implement our ideals.”