COLUMBUS, Ohio — Equality Ohio released the following statement after the Ohio House rushed through passage of HB 8, a harmful bill with language similar to Florida’s “Don’t Say Gay” bill. 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.

“Overnight when most school-age children are asleep, the legislature rushed through another shameful attack on LGBTQ+ youth,” said Equality Ohio Executive Director Dwayne Steward. “With bipartisan opposition, and opposition from a broad coalition that includes teachers, social workers and LGBTQ+ advocates, Gov. DeWine should veto this bill and ask the legislature to start over next session by focusing on ensuring that every young Ohio student has access to a school that welcomes them as they are.”

Equality Ohio previously called on the House to reject HB 8 because it 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.

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 19, 2024: 

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

Email: media@equalityohio.org  

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