LJ;412145 wrote:They most certainly could. In Ohio you can get fired for looking at your boss wrong.

I'd hate having you my boss. LOL.

I'm not a lawyer, but I would think that getting fired for drinking at a bar could be challenged in court. I don't care what an "at will" employee states. The EEOC would get their panties wadded up in a hurry.

Bio-Hazzzzard;412155 wrote:If you see someone in a gay bar and they are like-minded as you are , why would you think they would report you to your boss if they knew the consequence.

This seems to be a problem if even your own turn on you. It just doesn't seem like you are providing us a solid foundation if you can't trust your own.

That's not the point. Anyone in town could see me going into a bar. It doesn't have to be one of the patrons.

There is also the point that I am not willing to hide from anyone. If anyone at my job asked me if I were gay, I would tell the truth. At my age, I'm not willing to go back into the closet. Under any circumstance, it should not be necessary for me to lie.

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Equal Opportunity Commission

The U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) is an independent federal agency that enforces laws against workplace discrimination. The EEOC investigates discrimination complaints based on an individual's race, color, national origin, religion, sex, sexual orientation, age, disability and retaliation for reporting and/or opposing a discriminatory practice. It is empowered to file discrimination suits against employers on behalf of alleged victims and to adjudicate claims of discrimination brought against federal agencies.

Footwedge;412163 wrote:I'd hate having you my boss. LOL.

I'm not a lawyer, but I would think that getting fired for drinking at a bar could be challenged in court. I don't care what an "at will" employee states. The EEOC would get their panties wadded up in a hurry.

But you see, that isn't protected, the EEOC couldn't do shit. The EEOC is only there for protected classes.

In general, Ohio law provides that all employees are at-will and can be fired for almost any reason. Employers are not required to give any warnings or notice. But employers cannot fire an employee based on race, color, religion, pregnancy, sex, disability, military status, ancestry, or national origin. In some locations like the city of Cleveland, Ohio, employers are also prohibited from firing an employee based on sexual orientation. Employers also are not allowed to fire an at-will employee for reasons that would violate Ohio public policy. Some examples of recognized public policies are:

* Giving truthful testimony under oath
* Contacting an attorney to discuss employment rights
* Reporting crimes
* Refusing to participate in insurance fraud
* Taking almost any action protected by statute

So in short, yes, you could get fired for getting caught being somewhere the boss didn't like and it would most likely hold up

Footwedge;412163 wrote:I'd hate having you my boss. LOL.

You'd be lucky to have me as a boss. I am completely liberated and I keep my nose out of my employees' business. I have had some very homophobic employees, and we got along just fine.

Footwedge;412176 wrote:From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Equal Opportunity Commission

The U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) is an independent federal agency that enforces laws against workplace discrimination. The EEOC investigates discrimination complaints based on an individual's race, color, national origin, religion, sex, sexual orientation, age, disability and retaliation for reporting and/or opposing a discriminatory practice. It is empowered to file discrimination suits against employers on behalf of alleged victims and to adjudicate claims of discrimination brought against federal agencies.

Ohio only recognizes sexual orientation at the state level, aka state jobs. Sexual Orientation is not a federally protected class, therefore it is up to the states to recognize the different groups. The EEOC would have no leg to stand on.

FairwoodKing;412175 wrote:That's not the point. Anyone in town could see me going into a bar. It doesn't have to be one of the patrons.

There is also the point that I am not willing to hide from anyone. If anyone at my job asked me if I were gay, I would tell the truth. At my age, I'm not willing to go back into the closet. Under any circumstance, it should not be necessary for me to lie.

But you stated if someone saw you in the bar.

Footwedge;412163 wrote: I'm not a lawyer, but I would think that getting fired for drinking at a bar could be challenged in court. I don't care what an "at will" employee states. The EEOC would get their panties wadded up in a hurry.

Do you honestly think anyone is going to come out and say "You're fired...b/c you were drinking at a gay bar?" Ummm..probably not. They will make up some other excuse as to why you will be terminated, that probably wouldn't be able to be challenged in court.

Footwedge;412176 wrote:From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Equal Opportunity Commission

The U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) is an independent federal agency that enforces laws against workplace discrimination. The EEOC investigates discrimination complaints based on an individual's race, color, national origin, religion, sex, sexual orientation, age, disability and retaliation for reporting and/or opposing a discriminatory practice. It is empowered to file discrimination suits against employers on behalf of alleged victims and to adjudicate claims of discrimination brought against federal agencies.

This only works in states where sexual orientation is built into the anti-discrimination laws. We don't have that in Ohio.

GoChiefs;412188 wrote:Do you honestly think anyone is going to come out and say "You're fired...b/c you were drinking at a gay bar?" Ummm..probably not. They will make up some other excuse as to why you will be terminated, that probably wouldn't be able to be challenged in court.

I have had friends who were fired because they were seen going into gay establishments. This actually happens in the real world. Yes, it is often the case that the employer makes up some other excuse for doing the firing, but we gays are not protected from this sort of thing in many states.

Fairwood, I don't want to sound discriminative, only asking. Why would you want to leave your comfort zone (WA) and have to worry about all the bullshit your worried about in OH?

Unless it involves returning to your family I don't understand.

FairwoodKing;412197 wrote:I have had friends who were fired because they were seen going into gay establishments. This actually happens in the real world. Yes, it is often the case that the employer makes up some other excuse for doing the firing, but we gays are not protected from this sort of thing in many states.

So if the boss is going to make up an excuse anyway, why fight it? Even if you get sexual orientation in the law books, your boss is just going to fire you for something stupid that isn't protected.

Bio-Hazzzzard;412206 wrote:Fairwood, I don't want to sound discriminative, only asking. Why would you want to leave your comfort zone (WA) and have to worry about all the bullshit your worried about in OH?

Unless it involves returning to your family I don't understand.

It's pretty sad that you have to preface this comment with "I don't want to sound discriminative".

Bio-Hazzzzard;412206 wrote:Fairwood, I don't want to sound discriminative, only asking. Why would you want to leave your comfort zone (WA) and have to worry about all the bullshit your worried about in OH?

Unless it involves returning to your family I don't understand.

That's a fair question. It's all a matter of money. The cost of living out here in Seattle is horrible. And I have a huge mortgage on my house. I just can't afford to live here any longer. I can buy a decent home in Steubenville and have it paid for with the equity I will get by selling my home out here.

I should also be able to get a job at one of the local colleges when I move home. Out here in Seattle, everyone is educated. I am a very small fish in a very large pond. But with my five degrees (yes, I have more degrees than a thermometer), I will be a big fish in a small pond.

There is also the fact that I do not have a lover. Washington's domestic partner laws don't affect me that much. I do what I can out here to help the next generation.

Fairwood isn't gay. No one has ever been fired by being "seen going into gay establishments", not in Seattle WA or Columbus OH.

He's pulling our leg. And is doing a nice amount of trolling.

Does anyone think that an employer actively goes out and investigates what their employees are doing, with 'being gay' being the biggest of their concerns?

Manhattan Buckeye;412232 wrote:Fairwood isn't gay. No one has ever been fired by being "seen going into gay establishments", not in Seattle WA or Columbus OH.

He's pulling our leg. And is doing a nice amount of trolling.

Does anyone think that an employer actively goes out and investigates what their employees are doing, with 'being gay' being the biggest of their concerns?

Come over to my place sometime. I'll prove to you that I'm gay.

FairwoodKing;412222 wrote:That's a fair question. It's all a matter of money. The cost of living out here in Seattle is horrible. And I have a huge mortgage on my house. I just can't afford to live here any longer. I can buy a decent home in Steubenville and have it paid for with the equity I will get by selling my home out here.

I should also be able to get a job at one of the local colleges when I move home. Out here in Seattle, everyone is educated. I am a very small fish in a very large pond. But with my five degrees (yes, I have more degrees than a thermometer), I will be a big fish in a small pond.



There is also the fact that I do not have a lover. Washington's domestic partner laws don't affect me that much. I do what I can out here to help the next generation.

I see your point for moving but I didn't need to know about the lack of a lover information, it actually sickens my stomach.

Bio-Hazzzzard;412246 wrote:I see your point for moving but I didn't need to know about the lack of a lover information, it actually sickens my stomach.

What do you think being gay is all about? My cock only gets hard around men. If it weren't for the sex part, homosexuality wouldn't exist. Of course, neither would heterosexuality.

Each to his own.....THE END

FairwoodKing I see where you are going with this. You want special legislation to protect you from losing your job because you're Gay. Let's say my boss fires me tomorrow because I'm not Gay. Where's my special legislation protecting my since I'm not Gay?

Truthful many straight people get turned off about Gay Rights because it appears to them that Gays get special rights because they are gay. Even though the thought within the Gay community is it is more about equal rights.

Many companies now have Health Insurance where you can have your Domestic partner added on. If you are straight you have to be married in order to get on your spouse's Insurance. (Tell me that's not discrimination) I know it's in place since you can't legally marry the same sex in Ohio...But it is already a benefit Gays and Lesbians have over Straight couples. I mean why do I have to marry my wife in order to get covered on her health insurance and my Gay friends don't. They can move in together and immediately add their partners and a straight person can't...that doesn't appear equal to me.

You make it sound like you're moving back into Ohio like it was 20-30 years ago...being that you are talking about Steubenville...that might be the case, but you'll find that in other parts of the State it makes no difference if you're Gay or Straight.

Curly J;412270 wrote:FairwoodKing I see where you are going with this. You want special legislation to protect you from losing your job because you're Gay. Let's say my boss fires me tomorrow because I'm not Gay. Where's my special legislation protecting my since I'm not Gay?

There is a difference between being fired for just cause and being fired because of a lifestyle issue. If gay men and lesbians are not doing their jobs, they should be fired. But they shouldn't lose their jobs because of who they sleep with.

Curly J;412270 wrote:Truthful many straight people get turned off about Gay Rights because it appears to them that Gays get special rights because they are gay. Even though the thought within the Gay community is it is more about equal rights.

We are only asking for the same rights that straight people have. You don't get fired because you sleep with your wife, so why should we be fired or thrown out of our apartment because of who we sleep with?

Curly J;412270 wrote:Many companies now have Health Insurance where you can have your Domestic partner added on. If you are straight you have to be married in order to get on your spouse's Insurance. (Tell me that's not discrimination) I know it's in place since you can't legally marry the same sex in Ohio...But it is already a benefit Gays and Lesbians have over Straight couples. I mean why do I have to marry my wife in order to get covered on her health insurance and my Gay friends don't. They can move in together and immediately add their partners and a straight person can't...that doesn't appear equal to me.

We agree that straight domestic partners should also have these rights. That's part of the equality that we are fighting for.

Curly J;412270 wrote:You make it sound like you're moving back into Ohio like it was 20-30 years ago...being that you are talking about Steubenville...that might be the case, but you'll find that in other parts of the State it makes no difference if you're Gay or Straight.

I guess I'll just have to find out how accepting Steubenville is when I move back there. Actually, I am very excited about moving back home. I think this will be a good experience for me.

FairwoodKing;410169 wrote:
I will try to get a job. In Ohio, if they find out I'm gay, they can fire me. State law does not protect me.

Yeah, and my work can fire me because I'm straight, they would just state another reason of course. If your job fired you and actually said "because you're gay", you would have lawyers clammoring to take your case, you would be very rich. You and I both know it.

Sykotyk;410948 wrote:There's a difference between a right and a protection.

If I, a straight male, want to marry the woman I love and get the benefits therein (automatic power of attorney, equal property rights, automatic beneficiary, caregiver, etc), the state rubberstamps it. If I were FairwoodKing, I would not be given those rights automatically. Even if they can make living wills, power of attorney, etc, that is only "Seperate but equal", which the Supreme Court ruled years ago is not a valid argument.

The truth is, the government should have no involvement in a religious institution (after all, the 'moral majority' loves throwing out it is the institution of marriage). If you want to get married and have the clergy of your choice ordain the ceremony, fine. Have fun. Mazel Tov. But the state shouldn't enforce it. Confirm it. Or substantiate it.

Ban government controlled marriage, and just allow civil unions for any two people who want to, for any reason whatsoever.

Sykotyk

One, "separate but equal" was for racial matters, not sexual orientation.

Two, I'm with you on the government getting out of "marriage" all together but you then talk about the government allowing "civil unions" of any 2 people. Well isn't "civil union" just euphamism for marriage? And if the government is getting out of marriage altogether why stop at 2 people, why not allow the Mormons to have civil unions with many people?

FairwoodKing;412104 wrote: In the State of Ohio, I can be fired solely for that reason. Ohio does not include sexual orientation in its non-discrimination laws.

When I move back to Ohio, I will do everything in my power to see that the law is changed.

In the state of Ohio i can be fired for being straight, so you are not being discriminated against for being a homosexual. We are "equal".

See how your own logic gets killed when you actually apply it?

jmog;412353 wrote:In the state of Ohio i can be fired for being straight, so you are not being discriminated against for being a homosexual. We are "equal".

See how your own logic gets killed when you actually apply it?

Now we are getting somewhere. I'd also like to see links to cases in Ohio where someone was fired solely for being gay.

Also, shouldn't I legally be able to marry my sister? Or my mom? How about my grandma? Just because you think it is wrong doesn't mean I shouldn't be able to.