Bathroom bans are against Ohio's economic interests

As a proud Democrat, conservatives often tell me that I will eventually vote Republican to safeguard my own economic interests.

This is truly baffling to me—a bisexual woman—since, instead of addressing pressing economic issues, the GOP in DC and in Columbus seem to have their heads in the toilet, wasting taxpayer dollars on bathroom bans instead of solving skyrocketing housing prices, cost of childcare and inflation.

This seeming obsession with what toilet a person uses would be humorous if it did not inflict tangible harm upon the rights of our transgender and gender non-conforming siblings.

The sad reality is that transgender and gender-nonconforming teens are at a greater risk of being sexually assaulted when prevented from using the bathroom or locker room that aligns with their gender identity.^[1]By resorting to hate and fear mongering that “biological men” are masquerading as girls, the rights of the entire LGBTQ+ community are harmed since politicians are once again wrongfully casting those of us who love and identify differently as sexual predators.

I would have hoped that in the year 2024, we would have flushed away these horrific stereotypes. But here we are having our taxpayer dollars wasted on bathroom bans that only serve to stigmatize and harm those of us in the LGBTQ+ community.

And the discrimination is not confined to just the bathroom. Ohio Republicans routinely fail to pass anti-discrimination ordinances in housing and employment.^[2] They restrict access to abortion, even though study after study has shown the devastating economic consequences of being denied an abortion.^[3]

Meanwhile, I have not heard one Republican support measures that would make childcare affordable, ensure paid parental leave or would guarantee equal pay for equal work. As an openly bisexual woman, it makes no sense for me to vote for a party that would allow employers to discriminate against me while implementing measures that do not ensure my economic wellbeing. The bathroom bans reflect just this to me: instead of addressing systemic inequalities and economic realities, Republicans once again resort to demonizing the latest group to be labeled as “the other” in our society.

So to all the Republicans – I am voting my economic interest when I vote blue and support the one party that does advance my economic interests. 🔥

[1] https://www.hsph.harvard.edu/news/hsph-in-the-news/transgender-teens-restricted-bathroom-access-sexual-assault/

[2] https://ohiocapitaljournal.com/2023/06/29/a-bipartisan-bill-will-be-re-introduced-that-would-protect-lgbtq-people-in-ohio-from-discrimination/

[3] https://www.ucsf.edu/news/2022/06/423161/ucsf-turnaway-study-shows-impact-abortion-access