COLUMBUS — Legislation that could drastically change the way LGBTQ+ youth live in Ohio is making its way through the Statehouse.
Minors in Ohio would be prohibited from receiving gender-affirming care, transgender student-athletes would be banned from participating in girls’ and women’s sports, schools would be required to notify parents when they’re going to be teaching about sexuality, or when their child requests recognition for a new gender identity, under separate bills.
A multifaceted proposal that would prohibit minors from receiving gender-affirming care and ban transgender student-athletes from participating in girls’ and women’s sports cleared the House yesterday.
The measure folds together two highly contentious bills in the Republican-dominated chamber.
It would prohibit minors from undergoing puberty blockers and other hormone therapies as well as any gender-reassignment surgery.
At least 20 states have now enacted laws restricting or banning gender-affirming medical care for transgender minors, and most of those states face lawsuits.
A federal judge struck down Arkansas’ ban as unconstitutional on Tuesday, and federal judges have temporarily blocked bans in Alabama and Indiana.
Additionally, it would also require K-12 schools and universities to designate “separate teams” for male and female sexes. It would ban transgender girls from participating in girls’ sports.
At least 20 other states have imposed similar bans at the K-12 or collegiate level.
Over the objections of LGBTQ+ rights advocates, civil rights groups and school counselors, the House also passed a bill requiring public schools to notify parents when they’re going to be teaching about sexuality or when their child requests recognition for a new gender identity.
The bill requires public schools to create policies that require parental notification of any “sexuality content,” including on gender ideology, as well as on children’s health and well-being, including a shift in gender identity.
Both bills now head to the Senate.