On Wednesday, the Ohio Senate approved a restriction on transgender students using bathrooms that correspond to their gender identities and forwarded the bill to Republican Gov. Mike DeWine.
The Republican-backed plan applies to public K-12 schools as well as higher education institutions. It mandates schools to provide separate bathrooms, locker rooms, and overnight accommodations “for the exclusive use” of either males or females, based on one’s gender assigned at or around birth, in both school buildings and facilities used for school-related events.
The measure would not apply to school personnel, emergencies, or those who assist young children or individuals with impairments, and schools would continue to be able to provide single-use and family restrooms.
State Senator Jerry Cirino, a Republican from Kirtland, stated that the law “is about safety and security.”
The ACLU of Ohio encouraged the governor not to sign the bill, which it criticized as a breach of LGBTQ+ Ohioans’ right to privacy and will make them less protected.
“We are closely considering the next steps,” the ACLU stated on social media.
“If allowed to go into effect, SB 104 will create unsafe environments for trans and gender non-conforming individuals of all ages,” said Jocelyn Rosnick, the group’s policy director. “This bill ignores the material reality that transgender people endure higher rates of sexual violence and assaults, particularly while using public restrooms, than people who are not transgender.”
According to a 2019 study published in the journal Pediatrics, transgender and gender-nonbinary youth who were exposed to the restroom or locker room restrictions were more likely to be sexually assaulted. According to the study, approximately 36% of the polled youths reported sexual assault.
The Center for Christian Virtue applauded legislators for adopting the bill and urged DeWine to sign it. The governor has stated that he is inclined to sign the law, but will first perform a legal assessment.
“Today is a huge victory for children and families in Ohio,” CCV Policy Director David Mahan stated. “Amended SB104 is common-sense legislation that will guarantee the only people entering young ladies’ private spaces are female, not men claiming to be female.”
At least 11 states have passed legislation prohibiting transgender girls and women from using girls’ and women’s restrooms in public schools and, in some cases, other government facilities.
The laws are in effect in Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, North Dakota, Oklahoma, Tennessee, and Utah. In Idaho, a judge has issued an order suspending enforcement.
Before approving the measure in June, Ohio House Republicans added it to a plan for Ohio’s college credit program for high school students, much to the dismay of one of the Democratic state senators who had signed on as a co-sponsor.
Sen. Catherine Ingram of Cincinnati said she was removing her name from the bill.
Senate Democratic Leader Nickie Antonio said she couldn’t believe Republican leaders prioritized the issue on their first day back from the November election.
“There should be no exception to liberty and justice for all, yet here we are telling our children that there are people who are less-than,” according to her. “This law isn’t about bathrooms. It is about denigrating those who are different, and our children are witnessing and listening to the fearmongering.”
Reference: Ohio lawmakers pass bill restricting transgender student access to bathrooms