COLUMBUS (AP) — A bipartisan group of state lawmakers says a bill prohibiting discrimination based on sexual orientation has its best chance of passage this year.

A small but growing coalition of legislators say they intend to lobby strongly for a law that would add gays, lesbians, bisexuals and transgender individuals to those protected from discrimination in hiring, credit and housing.

Rep. Dan Stewart, a Columbus Democrat, and Sen. Dale Miller, a Cleveland Democrat, said today that the issue affects Ohio's economy. Stewart says people across the country know they can be fired in Ohio for being gay and so don't move to the state.

Twenty-one states have similar discrimination protections in place.