Springfield Republican leads effort to halt gay bias

Nickie Antonio

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By William Hershey, Columbus Bureau Updated 2:08 AM Sunday, February 6, 2011

COLUMBUS — Statehouse Republicans are busy these days setting the legislative table with plans to limit abortions, fix pension systems, strip power from unions and make Ohio more “business-friendly.”

Rep. Ross McGregor, a Republican from Springfield, has one other idea, but it’s too early to tell if he’ll be able to squeeze it on to that table.

Some time this year McGregor plans to renew a bipartisan effort to ban discrimination in employment and housing, based on sexual orientation or gender identity.

His Democratic joint sponsor could be freshman state Rep. Nickie Antonio of Lakewood, Ohio’s first openly gay state level elected official.

“I plan on taking a leadership role,” said McGregor, 45, a manager in his family’s manufacturing business.

“We are having that discussion together,” said Antonio, 55, a former member of Lakewood City Council.

In the last legislative session, with Democrats controlling the House, McGregor was joint sponsor of similar legislation aimed at protecting gay, lesbian, transgender and bisexual Ohioans.

It passed the House in 2009 with support from five Republicans — including McGregor, Peggy Lehner of Kettering and Terry Blair of Washington Twp. That was the first time either the House or Senate had approved such legislation.

The bill, however, died in the Senate, controlled then as now by Republicans.

With the new political makeup at the Statehouse — Republicans control everything — the legislation would seem the longest of shots this year.

Still, the world has changed since 2009.

Congress repealed “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell,” permitting gays and lesbians to serve openly in the military.

Illinois Gov. Pat Quinn just signed legislation recognizing civil unions for same-sex couples.

About the same time, Barbara Bush, daughter of former President George W. Bush, announced her support for marriage for same-sex couples.

There was political irony in Barbara Bush’s announcement.

The successful 2004 campaign to win approval of a constitutional amendment banning same sex marriage in Ohio helped her father carry the state and win a second term as president.

The effort by McGregor and Antonio, both said, isn’t about same-sex marriage or civil unions.

They said it’s about economic development, the issue that Gov. John Kasich, the Republicans who control the legislature and nearly everybody else agree must be at the top of the state’s agenda.

“The jobs of the 21st century are going to be jobs that require creativity,” said McGregor.

It makes no sense to send a signal to one group of people that their creativity isn’t wanted.

“If we’re trying to really attract companies that are on the edge of technology and everything else, they’re going to be progressive,” said Antonio, a former special education teacher, adjunct professor and nonprofit administrator.

“The majority of them are trying to attract the best and the brightest. They want their employees to be in an inclusive atmosphere.”

Her history-making status hasn’t kept her from feeling included in the House, said Antonio.

“People have been very, very nice to me,” said Antonio, who with her partner Jean Kosmac has raised two daughters.

After passage of the 2004 gay marriage ban, Antonio thought about leaving Ohio, but decided to stay.

“... unfortunately, because of the laws of the state, I do not have equal access to life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness,” she said. “I have hope for Ohio. That’s why I stay.”

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