Republicans bus in anti-trans ‘lesbian Democrats’ to support Ohio bill protecting parents who reject their trans children

The Ohio House Judiciary held a second hearing for HB 693 (“The Affirming Families First Act”) on Wednesday, a bill that would grant protections to parents who reject their trans children. 

HB 693 redefines “affirmation” as a parent’s right to acknowledge only a child’s sex at birth and not have their rejection of their trans child used against them by any courts or state agencies.

Wednesday’s hearing was an opportunity for proponent testimony: those in support of the bill. The witnesses included representatives from two organizations designated as anti-LGBTQ+ hate groups by the Southern Poverty Law Center, multiple mothers who misgendered their children and two “lesbian Democrats” who traveled to Ohio to argue that no one is really transgender. 

The hearing kicked off with Megan Brock, an investigative reporter with The Daily Wire, a far right-wing publication founded by conservative provocateur Ben Shapiro. 

Brock said that her years-long investigation yielded the conclusion that the “Cuyahoga County child welfare system was a hotbed for radical, gender ideology policies” due to a federal grant that enabled the county to collect demographic information on youth in foster care in order to best support the LGBTQ+ youth that are disproportionately overrepresented in that system.

HB 693 would prevent state agencies from collecting information about a minor’s LGBTQ+ identity without permission from a parent, guardian or legal custodian or maintaining a database of parents who deny their child’s LGBTQ+ identity.

After Democratic lawmakers asked Brock questions about her research citations, Republicans on the committee quickly made their views clear. 

“Speaking to my constituents, people are sick of this crap,” said Rep. D.J. Swearingen (R-Huron), clearly frustrated by questions about trans identity. 

Next to testify was Laura Bryant Hanford, senior policy analyst at The Heritage Foundation, the primary architect behind the anti-LGBTQ+ presidential transition plan Project 2025.

Bryant Hanford spoke about “radical ideological training that has so deeply infiltrated child protective systems” and that the bill will address the “poisonous” practice of affirming trans children. 

“[This bill] is the result of extensive collaboration with parent advocates, policy makers, and attorneys to establish protections for children and families targeted by radical gender ideology,” said Bryant Hanford. 

Matt Sharp, senior counsel with Alliance Defending Freedom – an anti-LGBTQ+ hate group – spoke of the case of Bryan and Rebecca Gantt, a Vermont couple who recently were allowed to reapply for a foster license. The Gantts had previously had their foster status questioned after they said that they would not affirm an LGBTQ+ child’s identity given their “religious convictions.”

“HB 693 protects caring families here in Ohio from being compelled to forsake their faith as a condition of opening their homes to children in need,” Sharp said. 

Lesbian Democrats enter the room

Wednesday’s proponent hearing also featured the testimony of two out-of-state witnesses – both of whom said they were lesbian Democrats – who spoke out against affirming trans youth.

One section of HB 693 would prevent any state agency from “stating or suggesting” that any “psychological and mental health treatment” that refuses to acknowledge a trans child can be called “conversion therapy.”

Jamie Reed – who describes herself online as “a courageous public whistleblower from a U.S. pediatric gender clinic” who has testified in 17 states in 2025 – recast gender-affirming care as “homosexual conversion” therapy and said that “many adult gays and lesbians” agree with her.

“Most of them will grow up to be happy healthy homosexuals like I am if left alone,” Reed said, in response to a question from Rep. Ismail Mohamed (D-Columbus) about whether she supported conversion therapy on trans youth. “We believe these are proto-gay kids who would grow up to be homosexuals like we are. We see this as gay conversion therapy in its worst form.” 

Lauren Leggieri, a lesbian and “lifelong Democrat,” testified that affirming trans youth is a “gay rights issue.” 

“Many children being socially and medically transitioned would, without intervention, grow up to be gay and lesbian adults,” Leggieri said, conflating sexual orientation with gender identity.

HB 693 remains in the Judiciary Committee and has not yet been scheduled for a third hearing. 🔥

This piece has been updated to reflect Jamie Reed’s quote and to add the context that she was responding to a question from Rep. Mohamed about whether she supported conversion therapy on trans youth.

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Ignite Action

• To access The Buckeye Flame’s Ohio 2026 LGBTQ+ legislation guide, click 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 state 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