transgender

A transgender Pride flag is covered with the words “Hands Off Trans Youth.” (Photo by Greg LaRose/Louisiana Illuminator/States Newsroom)

Lawmaker behind bill blocking gender-affirming care believes care is ‘child abuse’

BY: - November 16, 2023

A Republican lawmaker who introduced a bill that would prevent doctors from providing gender-affirming care to trans youth said he believes that type of care is child abuse. “(Gender-affirming care) is not best medical practice,” Rep. Gary Click, R-Vickery, said to the Senate Government Oversight Committee Wednesday morning. “I do believe it is child abuse.” Click […]

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Supporters testify in favor of transgender bathroom ban for Ohio colleges and K-12 schools

BY: - October 19, 2023

Those who testified in support of an Ohio bill that would ban transgender students from using the bathroom and locker room that aligns with their gender identity were meet with sharp questioning from members of the House Higher Education Committee on Wednesday.  House Bill 183 would require Ohio K-12 schools and colleges to mandate that […]

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More than 100 people submit testimony against bathroom ban for Ohio colleges and K-12 schools

BY: - October 12, 2023

Transgender high school student Bradie Anderson doesn’t want to have to go back to using the boys bathroom. The-14-year-old testified Wednesday during the House Higher Education Committee against a bill that would ban transgender students from using the bathroom and locker room that matches up with their gender identity. “How uncomfortable and unsafe would I […]

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GOP sponsor of bathroom ban for Ohio colleges and K-12 schools: “We want to protect our children”

BY: - October 5, 2023

Republican sponsors of a bill banning transgender students from using the bathroom and locker room that matches up with their gender identity faced questions Wednesday afternoon from the House Higher Education Committee.  State Reps. Beth Lear, R-Galena, and Adam Bird, R-New Richmond, introduced House Bill 183 which would require Ohio K-12 schools and colleges to […]

Families of transgender youth consider potentially leaving Ohio because of proposed legislation

BY: - July 20, 2023

Ember Zelch would rather give up a $10,000 college scholarship than stay in Ohio.  The 18-year-old was one of 150 students who won a scholarship in 2021 as part of Ohio Vax-2-School, a statewide contest aimed at boosting COVID-19 vaccination rates among younger Ohioans.  Zelch, however, is leaving that money on the table because she […]

“An attack on all trans people,” transgender youth speak out against Ohio legislation

BY: - July 3, 2023

Nathan Alvarez is used to people laughing or snickering at him when he uses the men’s bathroom.  Despite that, the 15-year-old says his high school is one place he doesn’t have to worry about that happening because they have a couple of gender neutral bathrooms and anyone can use the men and women’s restroom.  But […]

Ohio House passes bill blocking gender-affirming care and trans athletes

BY: - June 22, 2023

The Ohio House of Representatives passed a controversial bill that would prevent doctors from providing gender-affirming care to trans youth and prevents trans athletes from participating in Ohio women’s sports.   Wednesday’s 64-28 vote comes a week after House Bill 6, dubbed the “Save Women’s Sports Act”, was added to House Bill 68, also known as […]

New bill would ban transgender students from using bathroom that matches gender identity

BY: - May 26, 2023

A bill banning transgender students from being able to use the bathroom and locker room that aligns with their gender identity was recently introduced by a pair of Ohio Republican legislators.  House Bill 183 — introduced by state Rep. Beth Lear, R-Galena, and state Rep. Adam Bird, R-New Richmond — would require K-12 schools and […]

More than 200 people submit opponent testimony against bill to limit health care for LGBTQ youth

BY: - May 25, 2023

A handful of parents of transgender children spoke out against a controversial bill that would limit health care for LGBTQ+ youth. They were among the more than 200 people who submitted opponent testimony against House Bill 68 — also known as the Save Adolescents from Experimentation Act (SAFE Act) — Wednesday morning to the House […]

Opponents speak out against banning trans athletes from Ohio women’s sports

BY: - April 20, 2023

Only a fraction of those who submitted testimony against a bill that would prevent trans athletes from participating in Ohio women’s sports and youth athletics were able to speak Wednesday due to time constraints. Of the more than 80 people who submitted opponent testimony, the Higher Education Committee was only able to hear about a […]

Ohio Right to Life makes spurious, anti-trans argument in favor of supermajority amendment

BY: - March 30, 2023

Late last year, Rep. Brian Stewart, R-Ashville, and Secretary of State Frank LaRose introduced their plan requiring supermajority for constitutional amendments. It didn’t take long for opponents to check the calendar and argue the resolution was advancing — and advancing now — to block an abortion rights amendment on the horizon. Despite Stewart and LaRose’s […]

Proponents speak in favor of barring trans athletes from Ohio women’s sports

BY: - March 30, 2023

Those who spoke in support of a controversial bill that would keep trans athletes from participating in Ohio women’s sports in college and youth athletics were met with lengthy — and sometimes sassy and sharp — questioning.  State Rep. Jean Schmidt, R-Loveland, two former Ohio State student-athletes, a former high school softball and baseball coach, […]