‘Ohio is home’: Coalition of LGBTQ+ orgs & allies speak out ahead of anti-LGBTQ+ legislation vote

A coalition of LGBTQ+ organizations held a press conference on Wednesday ahead of a possible Senate vote on HB 68, a bill that would limit healthcare for transgender youth, ban transgender girls from competing in sports and reject the global medical consensus of millions of doctors.

“We are here to say: Ohio is home,” said Siobhan Boyd-Nelson of Equality Ohio. “The legislative assault against Ohio’s transgender and nonbinary young people does not reflect the values and priorities of the people this legislative body claims to represent.”

Boyd-Nelson said the coalition represents several LGBTQ+ organizations, over 200 businesses and 1,700 allies who have signed on to oppose this legislation. HB 68 passed out of Senate committee on Wednesday morning and now heads to the full Senate for consideration.

Speakers took to the podium in the Ladies Gallery of the Ohio Statehouse to declare that regardless of the outcome of Wednesday’s vote on HB 68, services for LGBTQ+ youth would continue.

“Attempts to weaken our community will not tear down existing systems of support for trans people across the state of Ohio provided by us along with other community organizations,” said Dara Adkison of TransOhio.

Speakers also highlighted the potential damage of HB 8, the “Parents’ Bill of Rights” that would force all teachers and school staff — including school social workers, counselors and school psychologists — to out LGBTQ+ students to their parents. Professionals described a situation where providers would have to choose between supporting LGBTQ+ youth and having their licensure potentially revoked.

“This is not a choice anyone should have to make and many providers would rather leave the state or stop accepting minors altogether,” said Liam Strausbaugh of the Ohio Chapter of the National Association of Social Workers.

Deacon Nick Bates, a faith leader and parent of a transgender child, encouraged other faith leaders to stop “practicing medicine,” a nod to Pastor Representative Gary Click (R-Vickery), the sponsor of HB 68.

“[Faith leaders] should be listening to [doctors], follow their lead and show love to their neighbors.,” said Bates.

Boyd-Nelson concluded the press conference by noting that opponents who have testified against this legislation have outnumbered those who support the bills by “at least 7-to-1.” She renewed calls for Governor DeWine to veto HB 68 if it passes the Senate, following his past comments that such legislation “is best addressed outside of government.”

“We will call upon the governor to stand by what he said, to believe in Ohio regulatory bodies and to allow them to do the good work they are already doing in our state,” said Boyd-Nelson. 🔥

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