(a) Prohibited Discrimination. No person shall attempt to or willfully injure, intimidate, or interfere with any of the following:
(1) Any person from renting, purchasing, selling, financing or occupying any housing accommodations; from contracting or negotiating for any housing accommodations; or from applying for or participating in any service, organization, or facility relating to the business of selling or renting housing accommodations because of race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, national origin, ancestry, familial status as defined in Ohio R.C. 4112.01, military status as defined in Ohio R.C. 4112.01, or disability as defined in Ohio R.C. 4112.01.
(2) Any person because that person is or has been doing either of the following:
A. Participating in any of the activities, services, organizations, or facilities described in division (a)(1) of this section;
B. Affording another person or class of persons opportunity or protection so to participate in any of the activities, services, organizations, or facilities described in division (a)(1) of this section.
(3) Any person because that person is or has been lawfully aiding or encouraging other persons to participate in any of the activities, services, organizations, or facilities described in division (a)(1) of this section, or participating lawfully in speech or peaceful assembly opposing any denial of the opportunity to so participate.
(b) Exemption. Unless otherwise provided by law, nothing in this section shall bar any religious or denominational corporation, institution, association or organization, or any non-profit, charitable or educational organization that is operated, supervised or controlled by or in connection with a religious or denominational corporation, institution, association or organization, from limiting the sale, rental or occupancy of housing accommodations that it owns or operates for other than a commercial purpose to persons of the same religion, or for giving preference in the sale, rental or occupancy of such housing accommodations to persons of the same religion.
(Ord. 2019-10. Passed 1-27-19; Approved by voters 11-3-20.)