COLUMBUS, Ohio — Gov. Mike DeWine said he disagrees with advocates who claim the state is unwelcoming to LGBTQ+ people.
On March 26, the governor was answering questions at a moderated Columbus Metropolitan Club forum when he was asked if Ohio is creating an unfriendly environment for LGBTQ+ residents.
The moderator stated that advocates claim DeWine has signed into law several bills that encourage bullying against transgender youth, such as legislation regulating school restroom use.
“I’d disagree with that, I would totally disagree with that,” according to DeWine. “I do not believe we have done that. Look, if you look back at everything I’ve said as governor, including ‘State of the State’ speeches, this should be a welcoming state. We want everyone to feel welcome in Ohio.
When pressed, DeWine firmly denied that Ohio has a “anti-LGBTQ climate,” but added that “it’s important for all of us who are in public office to speak out about it and to continue to make it clear that this is a state that welcomes everyone.”
DeWine stated that “we want you to come to the state of Ohio, and we want you to feel welcome here.”
DeWine’s remarks come as the Statehouse has advanced several bills that opponents call “anti-LGBTQ+,” rather than repealing Ohio’s dormant same-sex marriage bans, repealing antiquated HIV criminalization laws, enacting a statewide conversion therapy ban, or prohibiting LGBTQ+ discrimination.
Ohio’s list of “anti-LGBTQ+ bills” includes a provision requiring academic institutions to set up separate bathrooms based on students’ “biological sex.” After the bill was signed into law last November, TransOhio, Ohio’s only statewide transgender organization, reported that over 10,000 people called, emailed, and wrote to DeWine urging him to veto it.
“Our transgender students and educators deserve far better. “Trans people have been a part of Ohio since before it was Ohio, and we always will be,” the group stated.
Proponents argue that the legislation addressed Ohio parents’ concerns about their local schools allowing the opposite sex to use shared restrooms or locker rooms.
Sen. Andrew Brenner (R-Delaware) said he sponsored the bill because he supports “protecting women, and our daughters, by simply providing the specific facilities reserved for them.”
Columbus City Schools stated that this law is why the district reverted students’ names to those on birth certificates, prompting criticism from parents who claimed the move was made without notice and harmed trans students.
In February, the district repealed its transgender and gender variant student policy, which included a provision to protect names and pronouns.
DeWine also signed into law in January a bill known as “The Parents’ Bill of Rights,” which takes effect in April and requires teachers to notify parents before teaching “sexuality content” or of changes in a student’s mental, emotional, or physical health.
A national crisis hotline reported a significant increase in calls from Ohio’s LGBTQ+ youth within hours of the governor’s approval of the measure. Opponents claim the bill will deprive those youth of the ability to confide in educators and school staff, putting them at risk of being exposed to unsupportive families.
In January, the governor told reporters that the measure would allow parents to be more informed about their child’s life. “[Parents are] the first teachers; they’re the best teachers, and that’s very, very important,” DeWine said, adding that he does not believe the bill will harm LGBTQ+ students.
DeWine vetoed another bill banning gender-affirming care for transgender youth in late 2023. However, after the Statehouse voted to override the governor’s veto, the ACLU filed a lawsuit against the measure, resulting in a five-day trial last July.
While the Franklin County judge in that trial ruled in August that the measure could take effect, an appeals court ruled in March that the law is unconstitutional.
“Children are just not old enough, they’re not mature enough to be able to make these lifelong decisions,” said Rep. Gary Click (R-Vickery), the bill’s primary sponsor, when it was passed. “We wanted to put on the brakes and say, ‘Wait a minute, this is an adult decision.'”
The mayors of Akron, Cleveland, Columbus, and Toledo said in a joint statement that while they “are proud to offer trans-inclusive health care benefits to their employees,” the law prevents young people from receiving those benefits.
“While our city does everything we can to empower and lift up all our youth, the state law prevents parents in our city from making health care decisions for and with their child,” Andrew Ginther, mayor of Columbus, said.
Other LGBTQ-related bills debated at the Statehouse include a measure prohibiting “adult cabaret performances,” which opponents argue would amount to a ban on drag queens in public, a bill prohibiting universities from asking students their preferred pronouns, and legislation prohibiting mental health services to minors without parental consent, which a leading advocacy group said could prematurely out LGBTQ+ teens.
