On April 19, a third hearing will be held for HB 6 (“Save Women’s Sports Act”) in the Higher Education committee of the Ohio House of Representatives.
If passed, the bill would ban transgender girls and women across the state from competing in team sports from kindergarten through college.
This third hearing will consisted of opponent testimony: those testifying against this trans sports ban.
“Our families tell us their children have been welcomed by their coaches and teammates on the field. We are asking them to do more. We need them to support trans athletes in hearings for this cruel bill with written or in-person testimony,” said Jeanne Ogden, member of the leadership team of Trans Allies of Ohio.
Additionally, LGBTQ+ orgs are seeking testimony from those representing Ohio businesses who would be affected by such a ban passing. Due to anti-LGBTQ+ legislation, Ohio currently ranks 31 out of 50 in business climate for LGTBQ+ people, and 8th regionally among the 12 midwest states.
At the second hearing on March 29, the line-up of witnesses testifying for the ban included representatives from Alliance Defending Freedom – the notoriously anti-LGBTQ+ legal advocacy group, designated a hate group by the Southern Poverty Law Center – and the Center for Christian Virtue, the conservative lobbying group that has been involved in crafting nearly every piece of anti-LGBTQ+ legislation in Ohio in recent years.
For nearly two hours, representatives and witnesses went back and forth debating the idea of fairness and the definition of biological sex. 🔥
Ignite Action
- LGBTQ+ Ohio orgs are urging those who wish to testify to submit a pdf of their prepared statement along with a Witness Information Form and submit it to [email protected] AND [email protected].
- Equality Ohio has an easy-to-complete webform to let the members of the Higher Education committee know your thoughts on HB 6.
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