LGBTQ+
State board of ed president, husband both oppose LGBTQ inclusion in federal law
Opposition to a federal policy change involving the LGBTQ community seems to be a family affair when it comes to the president of Ohio’s state board of education and her husband, who is a member of the Republican State Central Committee. Though Ohio Board of Education President Charlotte McGuire attempted to alter a resolution against […]
Cleveland City Council moves to ban “conversion therapy”
This week the Cleveland City Council voted to ban conversion therapy within its jurisdiction. Advocates backing the initiative expect Mayor Justin Bibb to sign the legislation. The practice known as “conversion” or “reparative” therapy attempts to coerce LGBTQ people, many of them youths, into altering their sexual orientation or gender identity. The American Medical Association, […]
LGBTQ+ youth in Ohio are fighting for the freedom to exist
By Cynthia Peeples, Honesty for Ohio Education; Maria Bruno, Equality Ohio; and Sean McCann, ACLU of Ohio Across Ohio and the country, LGBTQ+ youth, particularly transgender and gender-nonconforming youth, are being used as pawns in a national extremist political agenda designed to weaponize race and identity in public education. We know from the Trevor Project’s 2022 […]
Akron Children’s Hospital is latest gender-affirming care provider to face online threats
Akron Children’s Hospital is the latest institution to be targeted for providing health care for transgender youth. The hospital provides gender-affirming care, such as hormone blockers and counseling services, to trans youth. But Akron Children’s had to temporarily take down the gender-affirming care section of its website after social media users started flooding the hospital […]
Marjorie Taylor Greene leads GOP drive to criminalize gender-affirming care for transgender youth
WASHINGTON — Conservative Republicans gathered outside the U.S. Capitol on Tuesday to commit to bringing legislation to the floor that would make it a felony to perform gender-affirming care on transgender youth, should the GOP take control of the U.S. House following the November midterm elections. “How on earth can this be happening in America? […]
House Republicans want schools to tell parents about ‘sexually explicit content’
Two Ohio House Republicans introduced legislation last week that would force school boards to disclose to parents all “sexually explicit content” taught in the classroom. At parents’ request, teachers would need to provide students with alternative instruction that doesn’t include this sexually explicit content. The legislation — introduced by Republicans Sara Carruthers and D.J. Swearingen […]
Trans community speaks against Board of Ed. resolution opposing LGBTQ+ protections
The following article was originally published on News5Cleveland.com and is published in the Ohio Capital Journal under a content-sharing agreement. Unlike other OCJ articles, it is not available for free republication by other news outlets as it is owned by WEWS in Cleveland. COLUMBUS, Ohio — The LGBTQ+ community, educators, parents and some lawmakers are speaking out […]
Supreme Court to revisit LGBT rights – this time with a wedding website designer, not a baker
A simmering, difficult, and timely question returns to the U.S. Supreme Court this fall: What happens when freedom of speech and civil rights collide? The court took up similar questions four years ago in the famous “gay wedding cake” case, Masterpiece Cakeshop, Ltd. v. Colorado Civil Rights Commission, about a baker who refused to provide […]
Bill codifying same-sex marriage nears critical vote in U.S. Senate
WASHINGTON — The U.S. Senate is on track to vote on a bill codifying marriage equality as soon as next week with negotiators increasingly confident it could become law. Wisconsin Democratic Sen. Tammy Baldwin and Maine GOP Sen. Susan Collins said Wednesday they’re close to getting at least 10 Republicans to back the same-sex marriage […]
Schoolchildren do need protected: from fearful, intolerant, bigoted bills pushed by lawmakers
“We’ve got to protect the children!” You hear the refrain repeatedly from the gems trying to legislate banning and bullying in Ohio schools with bad to worse bills. “Save the innocents,” bray the right wingers angling for a break-out MAGA moment and the religious right on a mission from God. “From what?” you ask, as […]
She’s Ohio’s only trans female playing varsity sports; lawmakers want her out
Ember had only just made varsity when she learned about the state legislation that would block her from playing softball. To say she made varsity is something of a stretch. Her northeast Ohio high school team is short on players. It has no junior varsity counterpart. There aren’t even enough athletes to keep up a […]
Doctors discredit Ohio transgender bill as extreme overreach
Adding to the criticism from the medical field about bills attempting to restrict transgender health and inclusion in Ohio, doctors Thursday expressed grave concerns about a bill that would ban trans youth from participating in their chosen sports. During a press conference led by Democratic state representatives, Dr. Anita Somani held up a speculum, used […]