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Ohio Senate passes shameful bill that would force schools to out LGBTQ+ kids to their parents
The Ohio Senate and House have now both passed a bill that would forcibly out LGBTQ+ students to their parents and also allow parents to opt their child out of sexuality content at school. House Bill 8 defines sexuality content as any oral or written instruction, presentation, image, or description of sexual concepts or gender ideology provided in a classroom setting, with exceptions granted for STI and abuse discussion, as well as incidental references to sexual concepts or gender ideology. Related Ohio Senate passes cruel transgender bathroom ban The bill applies to all students in the state and will restrict the rights of thousands of trans people if the governor signs it. There is also a total ban on sexuality content in grades three and below, with all other grades facing a requirement for parental review of the content. It additionally requires notification of any substantial change in student services, defined as including changes to ones gender identity in the school system. Stay connected to your community Connect with the issues and events that impact your community at home and beyond by subscribing to our newsletter. Subscribe to our Newsletter today The bill was introduced by State Reps. D.J. Swearingen (R) and Sara Carruthers (R).If people are out and they dont have supportive parents there is an epidemic of LGBTQ youth homelessness, Dara Atkinson, an activist with TransOhio, told News 5 Cleveland. [There are] parents who dont affirm their children and then decide that they would like them to not be their children.For students that have queer families, it is then not OK in early childhood curriculum to discuss queer families as part of the community, they added.Carruthers claims, however, that there is no hidden agenda and that this is about advocating for parental rights. She claims it is not anti-LGBTQ and that nothing can be done these days without offending others.The bill is now on its way to the desk of Republican Governor Mike DeWine as advocacy groups call for him to veto it. We are deeply disappointed that the legislature decided once again to attack LGBTQIA+ youth by passing yet another bill that will make schools less safe and inclusive for queer and transgender people, said a statement from Kaleidoscope Youth Center, an LGBTQ+ youth center.Equality Ohio Executive Director Dwayne Steward added, Overnight when most school-age children are asleep, the legislature rushed through another shameful attack on LGBTQ+ youth.Subscribe to theLGBTQ Nation newsletterand be the first to know about the latest headlines shaping LGBTQ+ communities worldwide.
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