Ohio Bill Would Force Teachers to Out Transgender Children
Republican lawmakers in Ohio are pushing a bill that would require teachers in the state to “out” transgender students to their parents.
ABC News notes that Republicans who support the Ohio bill say it will protect “parental rights” and “allow parents to dictate what is in their child’s best interests.”
Ohio House Bill 658 would require government entities, including schools, courts and hospitals, to “immediately” notify parents if a child displays signs of gender dysphoria or “demonstrates a desire to be treated in a manner opposite of the child’s biological sex,” according to the proposal.
Introduced by Republican Reps. Tom Brinkman and Paul Zeltwanger, the bill also gives parents the right to “withhold consent for gender dysphoria treatment or activities that are designed and intended to form a child’s conception of sex and gender.”
Thankfully, critics of the bill are speaking up.
Opponents say that if it becomes law, the initiative could endanger children’s lives.
“In targeting transgender children, the bill authors create ridiculous and unenforceable requirements –– requirements that out transgender students and create a significant threat of bullying and reduced access to social support systems,” LGBTQ advocacy group Equality Ohio said in a statement. “This unnecessary and discriminatory bill does nothing to support youth and families. In fact, it puts the livelihoods of some of our most vulnerable youth –– transgender youth –– further at risk with bullying and discrimination by potentially forcing teachers to out them.”
If House Bill 658 were to become law, Ohio would have to “deputize its state employees to be gender cops,” the organization said, calling the provision “dangerous for Ohio families.”
The bill is set to be debated in the Ohio legislature this fall. If it passes, you can expect ruined lives — not to mention multiple lawsuits