[LAUREN TAYLOR]
A NEW OHIO LAW BANS TRANSGENDER STUDENTS FROM USING MULTIPERSON BATHROOMS ACCORDING TO THEIR GENDER IDENTITIES.
GOVERNOR MIKE DEWINE SIGNED THE “PROTECT ALL STUDENTS ACT” MEASURE ON WEDNESDAY AMID CALLS FOR A VETO.
THE MOVE COMES ON THE HEELS OF A NEW LAW THAT TOOK EFFECT IN AUGUST BANNING GENDER AFFIRMING CARE FOR MINORS ACROSS THE STATE.
THE BILL MANDATES PUBLIC AND PRIVATE SCHOOLS MUST HAVE SEPARATE BATHROOMS AND LOCKER ROOMS FOR KINDERGARTEN THROUGH COLLEGE LEVEL STUDENTS BASED ON THEIR BIOLOGICAL SEX ASSIGNED AT BIRTH.
BIOLOGICAL SEX IS DEFINED IN THE BILL AS THE SEX CHROMOSOMES, NATURALLY OCCURRING SEX HORMONES AND BOTH THE INTERNAL AND EXTERNAL ANATOMY OF MALE AND FEMALES.
NOTING PSYCHOLOGICAL, CHOSEN OR SUBJECTIVE GENDER CANNOT BE USED AS DEFINITIONS.
A SPONSOR OF THE BILL–OHIO SENATOR JERRY CIRINO–SAID THE BILL REVOLVES AROUND SAFETY…SECURITY AND COMMON SENSE.
IN A LETTER OF SUPPORT, STATE REPRESENTATIVE BETH LEAR SAID THESE RESTRICTIONS PROTECT STUDENTS FROM PREDATORS AND SHIELD THEM FROM ISSUES THAT ARE TOO COMPLEX FOR MANY ADULTS.
OHIO JOINS AT LEASTS 11 OTHER STATES THAT HAULT TRANSGENDER WOMEN AND GIRLS FROM USING BATHROOMS LABELED FOR WOMEN.
THEY ALSO JOIN 24 OTHERS THAT REGULATE TRANSGENDER GIRLS AND WOMEN FROM PARTICIPATING IN WOMEN SPORTS.
THE REPUBLICAN BACKED MEASURE PASSED IN THE OHIO HOUSE BEFORE RECEIVING A 24 TO 7 VOTE IN THE SENATE EARLIER THIS MONTH.
QUICKLY DRAWING OBJECTION FROM DEMOCRATS AND CIVIL RIGHTS GROUPS–INCLUDING THE AMERICAN CIVIL LIBERTIES UNION OF OHIO.
THE ACLU DESCRIBING THE LEGISLATION AS “ANTI-TRANS. “
STATING S-B 104 WILL QUOTE “CREATE UNSAFE ENVIRONMENTS FOR TRANS AND GENDER NON-CONFIRMING INDIVIDUALS OF ALL AGES.”
POLICY DIRECTOR, JOCELYN ROSNICK FURTHER STATING THIS BILL IGNORES TRANSGENDER PEOPLE’S SAFETY AND THE HIGHER RATES OF SEXUAL VIOLENCE THAT OCCURS WHILE USING PUBLIC RESTROOMS.
A 2019 STUDY IN THE JOURNAL OF PEDIATRICS SUPPORTS THIS CLAIM. DATA SHOWED WHEN TRANSGENDER TEENS BATHROOMS ARE RESTRICTED–THEY’RE AT A HIGHER RISK FOR SEXUAL ASSAULT.
PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES ARE EXEMPT FROM THIS BILL.
BOTH PRIVATE AND PUBLIC SCHOOLS CAN STILL PROVIDE FAMILY AND SINGLE-USE BATHROOMS
THERE ARE ALSO OTHER EXEMPTIONS LIKE IN CASES OF EMERGENCY, FOR SCHOOL EMPLOYEES AND PEOPLE HELPING YOUNG CHILDREN.
AS WRITTEN–
THERE ARE NO PENALTIES OR ENFORCEMENT LISTED IN THE BILL IF VIOLATIONS OCCUR.
THE NEW LAW TAKES EFFECT IN FEBRUARY.
FOR STRAIGHT ARROW NEWS I’M LAUREN TAYLOR
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