Ohio may become the 21st state to offer protections for gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender individuals if a bill that protects them from housing and employment discrimination passes through the GOP-controlled State Senate later this week.

The State House on Tuesday passed the bill with a vote of 56-38. Fives Republicans sided with the democratic majority. Before Tuesday, the bill was locked up in various legislative committees.

Read more about this article at the Columbus Dispatch.

—Simon Husted