COLUMBUS, Ohio — Equality Ohio released the following statement regarding HB 8, a harmful bill with language similar to Florida’s “Don’t Say Gay” bill that was voted out of the Ohio State Senate today. The bill goes even further than its counterpart in Florida by mandating students be reported to their parents if any school employee receives a request from a student to identify as a different gender than they were assigned at birth, even in cases where the student is at risk of being abused.

“Every young Ohio student deserves a school that welcomes them as they are, and every teacher deserves a school that supports them in creating a safe learning environment. Unfortunately, HB 8 does the opposite, which is why it is opposed by educators and the LGBTQ+ community alike,” said Equality Ohio Executive Director Dwayne Steward. “HB 8 shamefully suggests to LGBTQ+ students that there is something wrong with them that should be hidden, and it punishes teachers and staff for supporting LGBTQ+ students who are already targets of bullying and harassment. With just days to go before the end of the legislative session, this should be the end of the line and this harmful bill should not be prioritized by the House.”

Background

• According to The Trevor Project’s 2023 U.S. National Survey on the Mental Health of LGBTQ Young People:
  • Roughly 1 in 3 LGBTQ young people said their mental health was poor most of the time or always due to anti-LGBTQ policies and legislation.
  • While only 38% of LGBTQ young people found their home to be LGBTQ-affirming, 54% found their school to be affirming.
  • Many LGBTQ young people enrolled in school reported being verbally harassed because people thought they were LGBTQ (53%); not being allowed to dress in the way that fits their gender identity or expression (32%); being disciplined for fighting back against bullies (25%); and experiencing unwanted sexual contact because people thought they were LGBTQ (20%).
  • Only 37% of transgender and nonbinary young people reported having a gender-neutral bathroom at their school, and those who had access reported lower rates (15%) of attempting suicide in the past year compared to those who did not (21%). 

December 18, 2024: 

For additional information please contact: MD Sitzes | Communications Manager | Equality Ohio  

Email: media@equalityohio.org  

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