The Ohio Senate, with a Republican majority, passed a bill on Wednesday aimed at restricting transgender students from using school restrooms and locker rooms that align with their gender identity, advancing it to Governor Mike DeWine for final consideration.
Originally, the bill was designed to address college credits for high school students, but Senate Republicans added provisions from a House bill that prohibit transgender students from accessing single-sex restrooms.
Under this legislation, all public and private schools in Ohio, including higher education institutions, would be required to designate bathrooms, locker rooms, and overnight accommodations based on “biological sex” as recorded on students’ original birth certificates.
GOP senators cite privacy concerns in pushing restroom restrictions for schools
It also restricts the development of multi-occupancy, all-gender facilities. Transgender students, however, would have access to single-occupancy or staff facilities with controlled access. This measure was approved by the Senate in a 24-7 vote along party lines.
Dan Tierney, a spokesperson for Governor DeWine, indicated that while the governor is inclined to support the bill, he will thoroughly review it in its final form once it reaches his desk.
Republican senators defended the bill on the grounds of protecting the privacy of female students, asserting that it is not meant to target or discriminate against transgender individuals. Republican state Sen. Jerry Cirino, who initially introduced the bill, stated that the measure seeks to balance privacy needs with accommodations for students facing gender issues.
Another Republican, state Sen. Kristina Roegner, interpreted recent election outcomes as a broad signal that Americans, including Ohioans, disapprove of policies granting transgender individuals access to facilities and sports teams based on their gender identity. She emphasized that voters strongly rejected the notion of “biological men” in women’s spaces for safety reasons.
In the lead-up to the election, Republican campaigns, including those of President-elect Trump, spent heavily on media ads critiquing Democratic support for trans-inclusive policies. In Ohio, Sen.-elect Bernie Moreno’s victory over Sen. Sherrod Brown, who served three terms, was marked by ads attacking Brown’s stance on transgender issues, with Moreno committing to keep “biological men” out of girls’ sports.
Roegner voiced her belief that Ohioans have firmly rejected the presence of boys in girls’ sports, locker rooms, and restrooms, citing safety concerns for children and suggesting that last week’s election results clearly reflected these values.
Ohio Democrats, meanwhile, criticized the bill as another step to curtail transgender rights in the state, noting that Ohio law already restricts transgender students from participating in sports matching their gender identity and bars transgender minors from obtaining gender-affirming medical care, which DeWine initially vetoed.
Senate Minority Leader Nickie Antonio expressed frustration that this bill was prioritized at the start of the new session, calling it a tactic to stigmatize those who are different and warning that such divisive rhetoric impacts children. Democratic lawmakers also raised concerns that the bill violates Ohio’s single-subject rule by combining provisions on college credit with regulations on single-sex facilities.
LGBTQ advocacy groups in Ohio have urged Governor DeWine to veto the bill, holding a press conference outside the state Capitol on Thursday. Leaders from Equality Ohio, TransOhio, the American Civil Liberties Union of Ohio, and others announced that they are rallying supporters statewide to petition DeWine to reject the legislation.
