Rep. Brent announces reintroduction of the C.R.O.W.N. Act

COLUMBUS—In honor of the upcoming National CROWN Day (July 3), a day of solidarity for the human rights of Black women, men, and children to proudly wear their natural hair without fear of discrimination, State Rep. Juanita Brent (D-Cleveland) announced she will reintroduce the CROWN Act, formerly House Bill (HB) 535 in the 133rd General Assembly. CROWN Day marks the two-year anniversary of the CROWN Act being signed into law in California, the first place it was adopted. 

“CROWN Day is a celebration and a critical reminder of the need for progress in fighting against hair discrimination in schools, the workforce, and all other settings,” said Rep. Brent. “The CROWN Act is a commonsense bill that ensures any Ohioan who wears their hair naturally has the opportunity to succeed right here at home.”

The Creating a Respectful and Open World for Natural Hair (CROWN) Act would make discriminatory practices against an individual because of their hair texture or protective and cultural hairstyles illegal under Ohio’s Civil Rights Law. This would apply to schools, places of employment and public accommodation, housing and in credit practices.