Mike DeWine, the Republican governor of Ohio, signed a bill on Wednesday that prohibits transgender K–12 children from using restrooms that correspond to their gender identity. They are only permitted to use locker rooms and restrooms that correspond to the cisgender identity they were given at birth.
In addition to prohibiting schools from allowing transgender pupils to spend the night with their friends of the same gender, the Republican-backed bill will take effect in ninety days. Transgender Ohioans, advocates, and educators pleaded with DeWine to veto the law, but he disregarded their requests.
“We made it clear to Gov. DeWine and Ohio legislators that SB 104 does nothing to make trans students safer in schools, and, in fact, makes life more dangerous for trans kids in Ohio,” Equality Ohio Executive Director Dwayne Steward stated.
“We are deeply disappointed that Gov. DeWine has allowed this dangerous bill to become law that puts vulnerable trans youth at risk for abuse and harassment. Equality Ohio will continue to stand in solidarity with our transgender communities and their families, and we will always fight for fairness in Ohio.”
According to the Human Rights Campaign, at least 14 additional states deny transgender people access to restrooms that match their gender identity.
In a brief statement, DeWine’s office said the law was signed.
Before signing the bill, the governor told reporters last summer, “I’m for people, kids, to be able to go to the bathroom with the gender assignment so that they have that protection, but I’ll have to look at the specific language.”
According to The law, Senate Bill 104: “No institution of higher education shall knowingly permit a member of the female biological sex to use a student restroom, locker room, changing room or shower room that has been designated by the school for the exclusive use of the male biological sex. No institution of higher education shall knowingly permit a member of the male biological sex to use a student restroom, locker room, changing room or shower room that has been designated by the school for the exclusive use of the female biological sex.”
It passed the Republican-majority state’s House 60-31 in late June and the Senate 24-7 earlier this month, bringing it to the governor’s desk.
The American Medical Association is against legislation or regulations that prevent transgender individuals from using public facilities and basic human services that correspond to their gender identity.
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Transgender kids who are prohibited from accessing restrooms that correspond with their gender identification are more vulnerable to sexual violence, per a study published in the journal Pediatrics.
Late in the process of considering a more comprehensive education package, the transgender school restroom restriction was introduced to H.B. 183. The change introduced by the House was approved by the Ohio Senate.
