10,000 urged Ohio's governor to veto bathroom bill, transgender organization says

COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) -- More than 10,000 people urged Gov. Mike DeWine to veto a bill banning students from using school restrooms that don't align with their sex assigned at birth, a transgender advocacy group says.

DeWine signed Senate Bill 104 into law on Nov. 27 "in spite of the well over 10,000 people who called, emailed and wrote [to DeWine] urging for a veto," said the TransOhio board of directors in a statement. Ohio's only statewide trans-led organization, TransOhio said S.B. 104 is "a travesty of justice and equity and a stain upon this state."

"Our trans students and educators deserve so much better," the group's statement said. "Trans people have been a part of Ohio long before it was Ohio, and we always will be. TransOhio will continue to be there for trans people through all of this, no matter what."

S.B. 104, which also amends Ohio's College Credit Plus program, requires academic institutions to set separate bathrooms, locker rooms and overnight accommodations based on students' "biological sex," meaning the sex listed on a student's birth certificate. The bill prohibits the construction of any all-gendered restrooms in schools and will go into effect in February.

TransOhio and other statewide LGBTQ+ advocacy organizations have long argued against S.B. 104's "anti-trans" provisions. Dwayne Steward, executive director of Equality Ohio, said the legislation "makes life more dangerous for trans kids in Ohio."

"We are deeply disappointed that DeWine has allowed this dangerous bill to become law that puts vulnerable trans youth at risk for abuse and harassment," Steward said. "Equality Ohio will continue to stand in solidarity with our transgender communities and their families."

Rep. Adam Bird (R-New Richmond), the provision's primary sponsor, argues the legislation protects women and said it was introduced in response to school leaders who were concerned about "allowing opposite-sex access to restrooms." The Center for Christian Virtue, Ohio's largest Christian public policy organization, said the bill is part of a "common sense winning streak."

"Ohioans are rejecting the radical agenda of groups like the ACLU, Planned Parenthood, and Equality Ohio," the group said in a statement after DeWine signed the bill. "It's unbelievable to think these well-funded leftist organizations would think it's okay to force girls to bunk with boys on overnight trips."

Lt. Gov. Jon Husted said that as a father of two teenage daughters, he appreciated the legislature for passing the bill. He called the legislation a "common-sense bill [ensuring] student privacy and safety, protecting kids and providing peace of mind for families."

"It's unbelievable that we've reached a point where a law is necessary to ensure the safety of young women in school restrooms, but unfortunately, that's the reality right now in our society," Husted said in a statement.

S.B. 104's passage comes after the Ohio Statehouse passed House Bill 68 late last year to ban gender-affirming care for transgender youth and prohibit trans female athletes' participation in women's sports. However, DeWine vetoed H.B. 68 after visiting several children's hospitals, arguing "parents should make these decisions and not the government."

After the legislature voted to override DeWine's veto, the ACLU of Ohio filed a lawsuit against the measure on behalf of two families whose children were at risk of losing access to their healthcare. A five-day trial took place in July that yielded a ruling from a Franklin County judge who said H.B. 68 could go into effect.

The Statehouse is also likely to advance a third bill this week groups say is "anti-LGBTQ+," House Bill 8 which is known as the "Parents' Bill of Rights." The bill would allow parents to opt their students out of "sexuality content" and require that parents are notified about changes in their child's mental, emotional or physical health. Opponents worry the bill might result in the "forced outing" of LGBTQ+ students.

"[S.B. 104], like H.B. 68, H.B. 8 and other anti-transgender bills, is absurd," said Kaleidoscope Youth Center, Ohio's longest-standing organization supporting LGBTQ+ youth. "The legislature is playing games, and it is our young people who are getting hurt. This is not a game. Please stop." We are real people with real lives."