Welcome to #OhioCanPlay

In Ohio, lawmakers are attempting to pass the misleadingly named, “Save Women’s Sports Act” (House Bill 61 and Senate Bill 132). The bill would ban transgender athletes from competing on the team in alignment with their gender identity in both high school and college sports, and is just one more way LGBTQ+ youth are being demonized by politicians at the statehouse.

Through the #OhioCanPlay campaign, Equality Ohio, alongside our partners, allies, and community members, will directly confront the false, negative narrative being spread about transgender youth athletes and encourage all youth spaces to be welcoming and affirming for all. We are asking partners to submit videos in support of Transgender and Non-binary youth in athletics.

HOW TO PARTICIPATE IN THE #OHIOCANPLAY CAMPAIGN

What are these bills?: In Ohio, lawmakers are attempting to pass the misleadingly named, “Save Women’s Sports Act” (House Bill 61 and Senate Bill 132). The bill would ban transgender athletes from competing on the team in alignment with their gender identity in both high school and college sports, and is just one more way LGBTQ+ youth are being demonized by politicians at the statehouse.

We’re asking you to record a video, up to 1 minute long, telling us about your positive experiences with youth sports in Ohio. You can talk about their importance to your own life or simply a statement stating why you support transgender athletes in Ohio sports. You can do this as an individual, family, group of friends, or organization. Just make sure it’s under a minute!

Steps for Video Submission:

Fill out the Media Release form here and return it to advocacy@equalityohio.org
Once we confirm your form, upload your final video to google drive or dropbox and send it back to us (advocacy@equalityohio.org)
Participate in the #OhioCanPlay campaign on social media by posting your video online with the #OhioCanPlay hashtag!
Have questions? Contact Kathryn Poe, advocacy@equalityohio.org.

Tips for Recording Your Video Testimony:

Take 10-15 minutes to write out your testimony/what you’re going to say. Feel free to use the sample script below as your guide. You don’t have to read from a script but the video should include complete thoughts.
In the video, please say your name, pronouns, and where in Ohio you are from.
Film in a quiet setting with good lighting. We want to be able to see and hear you clearly. .
Take the video horizontally NOT vertically, so that we can adjust it for all social media platforms.
Speak from the heart. Make it real. People want to hear your honest story and perspective.

SAMPLE SCRIPT

Introduce yourself:

Hi, my name is (your name), my pronouns are (xx/xx) and I…

Am a student athlete in Ohio
Am the parent of a youth athlete in Ohio
Am a (position) on (sports team)

Answer ONE of the following questions (Restate the question in your answer).

What makes a great athlete?

- - Someone who is dedicated to the game
  - Someone who works well with other people
  - Someone who is smart and thinks strategically

What do/did you love most about playing youth sports?

- - My favorite coach who taught me…
  - Challenging myself to…
  - Spending Saturday mornings with my friends…

What makes a great team?

- - A team supports each other on and off the field
  - Each individual brings something unique to the team and everyone belongs on the playing field
  - Inspires new people to play, shows the integrity and collaboration we want to see in society

What do you love most about watching your kid(s) play sports?

- I love watching my kid become a leader on the field
- Watching my kid overcome adversity during a high stakes match

Add a conclusion sentence

Sports shape kids’ lives in such profoundly important ways
Let’s make sure every kid in Ohio gets the opportunity to be part of a team
Let’s make sure every kid in Ohio gets the chance to build character, and learn the importance of teamwork
The thing about trans kids is that… they’re kids! Kids belong in Ohio sports