February 7, 2025—As Ohio’s statewide advocacy experts, Equality Ohio has long been a champion for LGBTQ+ rights. Our legal clinic has already served 3,414 LGBTQ+ Ohioans since its inception—and we are prepared to meet this moment with expanded teams and unwavering resolve.

In just 20 days, the Trump administration has unleashed a sweeping wave of authoritarian overreach, causing immense harm to marginalized communities across Ohio and the nation. Instead of addressing urgent economic crises like inflation and the soaring cost of living—issues it promised to prioritize—the administration has chosen to attack transgender youth, immigrants, environmental protections, and long-standing diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) initiatives.

Equality Ohio refuses to stand by. We are on the front lines, providing critical legal support and advocacy, helping families navigate this avalanche of hate, and fighting for the dignity and rights of all Ohioans.

The Transgender Caucus at Equality Ohio stated; “These executive orders are a deliberate attack on our survival. The Trump administration is attempting to use federal power to strip transgender people—especially our transgender youth—of our right to exist safely. But let’s be clear: no executive order can erase us. No federal or state policy will change who we are. Transgender and nonbinary people have always existed, and we will always exist—no government can change that. 

However, we continue to fight for a future where we don’t simply survive—we thrive. Ohioans know firsthand the consequences of extremist policies like this. We have witnessed and experienced the harm inflicted when cowardly legislators escalate their attacks on our rights and our bodies. But, we also know our collective power. We call on each and every Ohioan to reject this cruelty. We call upon the good people of Ohio to stand in unwavering solidarity with the trans community. Our resistance will always be stronger than their hate.”

Executive Director Dwayne Steward added; “These executive orders are part of a larger, calculated effort to roll back fundamental freedoms and target the most vulnerable among us. This administration is not acting in isolation—these attacks are drawn straight from the extremist playbook of Project 2025, designed to strip away protections, erase progress, and undermine the very principles of equality and justice. We have seen these tactics before, and we know the harm they cause. Equality Ohio is not backing down. We are expanding our work, deepening our advocacy, and mobilizing communities across the state to meet this moment head-on. LGBTQ+ Ohioans—and all those targeted by these policies—deserve to live with dignity, safety, and opportunity. We will continue fighting until full legal and lived equality is a reality for all.This moment calls for action—not fear. Now is the time to build local networks, strengthen community ties, and engage with resources that support LGBTQ+ individuals and their families.”

Importantly, these executive orders do not override state law. Ohio has long been a testing ground for extremist policies, but the momentum is shifting. Over three-quarters of Americans supported policies that protect LGBTQ+ Americans from discrimination in 2023. More people than ever reject these attacks on our fundamental freedoms.

We urge Ohioans and our allies across the country to stay engaged, informed, and connected. The next four years will test our resilience, but we are already on the path forward. Equality Ohio remains steadfast in our mission to advocate for LGBTQ+ Ohioans and their families, and we will not be deterred by extremist efforts to erase our progress.

Media inquiries:

MD Sitzes, Communications Manager | media@equalityohio.org

###