The state budget is headed to the Senate after Ohio Republicans pushed through the bill on Wednesday which would legislatively erase trans identity in the Buckeye State.
Embedded within House Republicans’ 5,048-page budget (Sub. HB 96) – introduced on April 1 – are the following two sentences:
“It is the policy of the state of Ohio to recognize two sexes, male and female. These sexes are not changeable and are grounded in fundamental and incontrovertible reality.”
The language is pulled word-for-word from an executive order signed by President Donald Trump on January 20, his first day in office.
The budget also contains a number of other anti-LGBTQ+ restrictions:
- The use of Medicaid would be banned for mental health services that “promote or affirm gender transition.” According to a 2022 study, 21% of LGBTQ+ people are on Medicaid.
- Menstrual products would be banned from the men’s restrooms of public buildings.
- Libraries would have to place material related to sexual orientation or gender identity or expression out of the view of persons under the age of eighteen.
- State money would be withheld from youth shelters that support transgender youth. This restriction is proposed despite the repeatedly proven statistics that:
- Up to 40% of homeless youth identify as LGBTQ+, while the general youth population is only 10% LGBTQ.
- 26% of homeless LGBTQ+ youth report being forced out of their homes solely because of their sexual orientation or gender identity.
All 34 Democrats voted against the bill.
Hours-long debate
The primary sponsor of the two-year budget, Rep. Brian Stewart (R-Ashville), said the budget is a collaborative document created through compromise.
“This is what we need to do for the state of Ohio,” he said during a floor speech..
During the hours-long debate, only one Republican, State Rep. Jean Schmidt (R-Loveland), made explicit references to the anti-LGBTQ+ language.
“ This budget pushes back against the wokeness we are facing by prohibiting Medicaid funds from being used for discriminatory DEI programs and establishing a statewide policy, recognizing there are only two sexes in a 5,000 plus page document,” Schmidt said.
Most of Wednesday’s debate was centered around school funding and funding the Browns stadium in Brook Park, but some Democrats, like Rep. Veronica Sims (D-Akron), pointed out the legislation’s other intentions.
“Ohio wants a budget that works for them, not one that sneak attacks the LGBTQ+ community,” Sims said. “[ Incorporating] unnecessary state health policies about there being only two genders into a budget bill, how does this belong in a budget bill? What calculable or numeric values does this add to our state budget?”
Rep. Dani Isaacsohn (D-Cincinnati) praised the bipartisan elements of the bill, but he said Ohio is “still on the wrong track” on what to fund and LGBTQ+ policies.
“I don’t understand why when [LGBTQ+ youth] go to the library now, they don’t deserve to have access to books where they are the heroes and they are the protagonists,” he said. “This budget should be our attempt at making our state a state people deserve.” 🔥
IGNITE ACTION
- The Buckeye Flame’s Ohio LGBTQ+ legislation guide for 2025 can be found here.
- 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.
- If you are a young LGBTQ+ person in crisis, please contact the Trevor Project: 866-4-U-Trevor.
- If you are an transgender adult in need of immediate help, contact the National Trans Lifeline: 877-565-8860
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