We have been living in the same apartment complex for three years. In those three years we have had four different management companies. So far the fourth management company has been the worst. The management company here has shown no respect and has a diversity policy thats a joke. Its as bare bones as it could be considering the huge size of the company.
Management ignores all of our letters and calls and has refused to enforce the parking rules that are posted on the buildings. The signs are posted on every building and even the outsides of the carports stating "no parking tow away zone." The reason they are posted is because when people park along the building they block residents carports. Well my fiancee is a disabled veteran and if she needs to drive to the hospital or I have to take her we cannot if we are blocked in. We have had to call the local police department several times because of the parking issue which has resolved nothing because they say they aren’t allowed to enforce the rules because its private property.
I don't remember how many letters we have sent them regarding this issue. My fiancee has spoken to the manager and assistant manager and wrote letters suggesting the new company post warning letters inside the buildings as the previous company did. They ignored her. I see it as a disregard to everyone's safety. You don't have to be disabled to need to be rushed to the hospital.
Since the new management company has taken over they have not shown any consideration to my fiancee's safety. There is and have been people in our apartment building who have harassed us and they are obnoxious. A man who lives upstairs gives Sharon hate stares when she is by herself. Sharon contacted the manager asking if she would inform the residents to treat her with respect since she is transgender and a disabled veteran; the manager replied back “We cannot make them do anything. They have their own personal opinions so there is nothing we can do about it.” To me that shows that they do not care what happens to her. We have told them that she was being harassed and was afraid that she may be attacked, “sorry there is nothing we can do.”
Our home is not private, we’ve had teenagers trying to stare inside our apartment to get a look at the “weird person” and her friend. Our carport is not safe. People wander through our carport and drop cigarette butts and smear ashes in our carport at night. Who knows what they are doing in the carports? We have actually considered and want security cameras in our carport so that we know our property and vehicle is safe.
Its sad when an LGBT person is under attack and the management company and police sit by and watch it happen. This can all be prevented with education and respect but instead we have to be hyper-alert and ready to deal with residents. There is no peace here and we know that. All these big management companies want is your money. I swear their motto should be “Pay your rent and don’t call us!”
The LGBT community deserves the same equality heterosexuals have. Hopefully one day people will help the LGBT community get equal rights that everyone deserves. LGBT people don't affect heterosexual couples. For those bigots who believe that God say’s that we cannot accept the LGBT community because its going against him, God wouldn't have created them if he didn't want them to be who they are. LGBT is not a choice; it is who we are.
Ohio Democratic Party News Release
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
September 15, 2009
Contact: Seth Bringman
614-221-6563 ext. 145
Ohio Democratic Party Praises Passage of H.B. 176
Bill Prohibits Discrimination Based on Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity
COLUMBUS – Today, the Ohio Democratic Party praised the passage of H.B. 176, the Equal Housing and Employment Act, a bill to prohibit discrimination in housing and employment based on sexual orientation and gender identity. All House Democrats supported the bill. It is the first bill that was passed in the Statehouse when legislators returned to session today and the first bill in our state’s history that would expand rights for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender Ohioans.
“With today’s historic vote, we are one step closer to ensuring that Ohioans will not be fired or kicked out of their homes just because of who they are or who they love,” said Ohio Democratic Party Chairman Chris Redfern. “The fact that all House Democrats supported H.B. 176 is a testament to our Party’s commitment to equality for all Ohioans. I congratulate Equality Ohio and their coalition partners, the Human Rights Campaign and Stonewall Democrats, as well as Representative Dan Stewart, House Leadership and all who worked so diligently to make passage of this bill possible. We urge Senate President Bill Harris to move it through committee and to a vote on the Senate floor.”
The LGBT Caucus of the Ohio Democratic Party joined LGBT groups in working to pass this bill. The Ohio Democratic Party is the only State Party in the country with a full-time staff member dedicated to outreach to the LGBT community.
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Equality Ohio News Release
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE | September 15, 2009
Anti-Discrimination Law Passes Ohio House of Representatives
History is made in Ohio
For Immediate Release: September 15, 2009
Contact: Lynne Bowman 614-563-5274
COLUMBUS, Ohio – Today, with a vote of 56 to 39, the Ohio House of Representatives passed House Bill 176, the Equal Housing and Employment Act. The House vote marks the first time in Ohio’s history that a vote on the floor of either chamber has occurred on legislation protecting people based on their sexual orientation or gender identity in Ohio.
“With the passage of the Equal Housing and Employment Act, today the members of the House sent a clear message,” said Lynne Bowman, Executive Director of Equality Ohio, the state’s advocacy organization for LGBT issues. “Discrimination based on sexual orientation or gender identity will not be tolerated in Ohio, regardless of where a person lives, works or plays.”
House Bill 176 was introduced in early May of 2009 with 27 co-sponsors, including primary sponsors Rep. Dan Stewart (D, Columbus) and Rep. Ross McGregor (R, Springfield) and passed out of the State Government committee in June on an 8/5 vote. It has the support of more than 150 faith groups, local governments, and community organizations across Ohio. The Ohio Chamber of Commerce, the NFIB and the Ohio Chapter of the Society for Human Resource Management have all taken a neutral position on the bill.
“I am pleased to stand with my 55 colleagues in the House who voted yes on HB176 today,” said Representative Stewart. “We worked together to craft a bill that protects more Ohioans and is good for business. The bipartisan support it has achieved to date should make one thing clear: equality in housing, employment and public accommodations is not a partisan issue in Ohio.”
Currently, 20 states and the District of Columbia, 11 of Ohio’s 13 public four-year universities, 17 Ohio cities, over 90% of Fortune 500 companies, the Ohio Senate and the Ohio House of Representatives all offer similar protections. Governor Strickland has indicated support for the legislation. The bill now heads to the Senate.
“Now that House Bill 176 has passed the House, we look forward to the opportunity for full hearings in the Senate,” said Representative McGregor. “The Senate has indicated that they are focusing on issues that will stimulate the economy in Ohio. We believe they will find that House Bill 176 does just that by telling business owners and the employees they are trying recruit, that Ohio is a place that welcomes everyone.”
“This success was made possible because of the conviction of legislators who believe this is the right thing to do and because of activists from across Ohio who work to make our state a place where everyone can feel at home. We are now one step closer because of each of them,” commented Bowman.