After Jimmie Beall was fired from a teaching job she loved because she was a lesbian, she made a promise to her students that she'd fight to prevent the same thing from happening to others.

A story from the AP says, on Tuesday, Beall helped state lawmakers unveil a bill that would prohibit discrimination based on sexual orientation in jobs, credit and housing. Backers say the political climate is prime to make Ohio the 22nd state to pass such a law.

Opponents of similar measures that have failed in the past suggest the potentially divisive proposal's introduction may be politically loaded, coming just months before a critical presidential contest in the pivotal swing state.

Democrats _ led this year by Rep. Dan Stewart of Columbus in the House and Sen. Dale Miller of Cleveland in the Senate _ have been behind similar measures in the past. More unique are the two Republicans who have signed onto the proposal this time: so far, Rep. Jon Peterson of Delaware and Sen. David Goodman of Bexley.

Peterson, who backed a bill in 2004 declaring gay marriage in conflict with state policy, said he has been soul-searching since then on the question of gay rights.

After conversations with his pastor, friends, and his 14-year-old daughter _ who is nonplussed at anyone's interest in someone else's sexual preferences _ he decided to advocate the anti-discrimination legislation.