‘Disgusted’ & ‘devastated’: LGBTQ+ leaders react to Ohio Republicans’ latest anti-trans attacks

Leaders of LGBTQ+ organizations held a virtual press conference on Thursday to decry Ohio’s anti-trans legislation and executive orders to restrict health care. 

The coalition of local and national leaders urged state legislators to reject government overreach in health regulations and warned that proposed measures to limit access to gender-affirming care would have “devastating impacts on healthcare practices in Ohio and nationwide.”   

Held the morning after the Ohio House voted to override Governor DeWine’s veto of HB 68, leaders did not hold back on their reactions. 

“Equality Ohio is disgusted by the actions of the Ohio House of Representatives” said Siobhan Boyd-Nelson, co-interim executive director of Equality Ohio. “They once again ignored the voices of hundreds of Ohioans who testified against the bill and the clear message from Ohio voters this November. They will do whatever is necessary and harm whoever is necessary to protect their power.”

Dara Adkison, board secretary of TransOhio, called the actions of Republicans “a direct and cruel attempt to cripple medical care for both trans youth and adults across the state.”

“To my fellow trans Ohioans, you’re not alone and we’re going to deal with this together,” Adkison said. 

Leaders were frank in their remarks about the emotional effects of Ohio Republicans’ anti-trans on families of trans youth.

“Our community is completely devastated,” said Minna Zilch of Trans Allies of Ohio. “Some of our children have spent years begging our legislators to see them as human beings. But it’s clear that Ohio Republicans have sold their souls to extreme religious groups. Our children are a sacrifice to them.”

Chase Strangio of the ACLU said that all possible legal actions are being considered and put Ohio into a national context with regards to DeWine’s proposed rules on restricting trans health care for youth and adults.  

“These proposed rules would make Ohio the single most restrictive state in the country for accessing care, imposing on adults onerous requirements that are completely out of step with anything in the medical mainstream,” Strangio said.

Despite the heavy toll that these policies have taken on Ohio families, Zilch said there are ways to navigate the uncertain road ahead for trans healthcare. 

“Celebrate trans joy,” Zilch said. “Find your small community organizations that are having meet-ups. If there’s one thing I have learned, it’s that more Ohioans are with us than against us. For every single random stranger who felt the need to hunt me down and send me messages about how I’m a child abuser, I have 10-20 strangers thanking me for speaking up in public.”

Leaders concluded the press conference by urging Ohioans to keep speaking up and speaking out.

“If there was ever a time you were waiting to speak up, this is your moment,” Upchurch said. “Even if you think this doesn’t impact you in a personal way, because we’re all humans, it definitely does.” 🔥

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• To register to vote or to check your voter eligibility status in the state of Ohio, click here.
• To find contact information for your Ohio state representative, click here.
• To find contact information for your Ohio senator, click here.
• Comments on the Health Department rules draft should be submitted to ODHrules@odh.ohio.gov no later than Monday, Feb. 5.
• Comments on the proposed rules for the Mental Health and Addiction Services Department, please send them in an email to MH-SOT-rules@mha.ohio.gov no later than 5 pm on Friday, Jan. 19, 2024. In the subject matter line of the email, indicate “Comments on Gender Transition Care Rules.”
• To access the full Trans Legislation Tracker, click here.
• For more information on active designated hate groups across Ohio, click here.
• If you are a young person struggling, contact the Trevor Project: 866-4-U-Trevor.
• If you are an adult in need of immediate help, contact the National Trans Lifeline: 877-565-8860