FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
June 25, 2025
Contact:
MD Sitzes | Communications Manager | md@equalityohio.org

*updated at 12 noon on June 25

Equality Ohio Responds to Ohio State Budget on DeWine’s Desk “Taxpayer Dollars Should Not Fund Discrimination”

Columbus, OH — The Ohio State Budget will be sent to Governor DeWine’s desk for signature today—from what we know so far, it includes six anti-LGBTQ+ amendments. Governor DeWine has until Monday, June 30th to sign it into law.

Equality Ohio strongly condemns the inclusion of six discriminatory amendments that target LGBTQ+ people, particularly transgender youth, while wasting taxpayer dollars on unnecessary and dangerous culture war provisions.

“Ohioans deserve a budget that invests in education, healthcare, and community—not one that targets already vulnerable populations,” said Dwayne Steward, Executive Director at Equality Ohio. “This budget turns transphobia and homophobia into policy and uses public money to enforce it. Let’s be clear—LGBTQ+ Ohioans will not be erased.”

The final budget includes:

• Defunding certain shelters that serve transgender youth, even if they also serve other populations
• Banning LGBTQ+ library materials for minors, including children’s books about LGBTQ+ families, and requiring these materials be kept out of sight of minors
• Defining biological sex as only male or female, and unchangeable—even for intersex people
• Denying gender affirming mental health coverage 
• Banning menstrual products in men’s restrooms in state buildings
• Banning Pride flags from being flown at public buildings

These measures do nothing to improve life for Ohioans. At a time when our resources are desperately needed elsewhere, they redirect public funds toward enforcing discrimination instead of investing in education, healthcare, and other real community needs. 

Thanks to public pressure, one harmful proposal was removed—a requirement to include “biological sex” on driver’s licenses, which could have come with a multi-million-dollar price tag. That win belongs to our community. But the broader picture remains bleak.

All Ohioans deserve safety, dignity, and the freedom to thrive. Instead of advancing equality and justice, this budget codifies discrimination and doubles down on exclusion.

This is our home, too. We will keep fighting to make it safe for all of us.

We are asking Ohioans to immediately:

• Call Governor DeWine and demand a veto of these harmful provisions: (614) 644-4357 or (614) 466-3555
• You can also complete our form: bit.ly/EmailMDeWine
• Support the fight: Become a Defender of Equality 

If you are impacted or concerned about how these laws may affect your rights, reach out. Our clinic provides free legal help to LGBTQ+ Ohioans under 300% of the poverty line.

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About Equality Ohio
Founded in 2005, Equality Ohio is a statewide nonprofit advocacy organization working to build a better Ohio for LGBTQ+ people. Through legal services, policy advocacy, public education, and coalition building, we fight every day to ensure that all Ohioans—regardless of sexual orientation, gender identity, or gender expression—can live with safety, dignity, and freedom.

Learn more at linktr.ee/equalityohio
Follow us on instagram @equality.ohio