Note to JOURNALISTS: Thank you for lifting up trans issues. We encourage you to also lift up trans voices. WE ARE HAPPY TO CONNECT YOU!
Or visit Ohio’s statewide, trans-led, TransOhio.
SUBSCRIBE to our newsletter!
If you’re a parent of a trans youth and need assistance, email Danielle.S@transalliesohio.org.
See our EVENTS page for
Parent & Caregiver Group meeting dates and times.
UPDATES - December 7, 2024
URGENT CALL TO ACTION!
TESTIMONY, EMAILS, PHONE CALLS NEEDED!
HB 8 has hearings THIS WEEK!
“Forced Outing of LGBTQ Students/Don’t say Gay or Trans” bill
POSITION: OPPOSE
>>>
Tuesday, Dec 10 @ 3 pm
Senate Education Committee Hearing on HB 8 with possible vote
- South Hearing Room – Ohio Statehouse
- Opponent, Proponent, Interested Party IN PERSON and written testimony accepted
>>>
Wednesday, Dec 11 @ 9 am
Senate Education Committee Hearing on HB 8 with possible vote
- GRANT Hearing Room – Ohio Statehouse
- No public testimony
- If the committee did not vote on Dec 10, they are likely to vote during this hearing
>>>
FIND OUT MORE about HB 8
From the Policy Team @ Equality Ohio: HB 8 one-pager and HB 8 current bill language.
From our friends at HONESTY FOR OHIO EDUCATION: Why is HB 8 harmful?
HB 8 in the NEWS – Story dated 12/6/24
What you can do to stop HB 8>>>
FIRST, TAKE CARE OF YOU & BE SAFE
It has been a devastating three years. You have earned the right to nurture yourself.
THIS IS AN ALL-TESTIMONY HEARING. Please stay home if you are done with the haters. We want you safe and whole.
TAKE ACTION – OPTION 1
Write and Submit Testimony OPPOSING HB 8
Email DEADLINE: Mon, Dec 9 @ 3 pm – they will not accept it even one minute late
Email a pdf of your written or “in person” oral testimony and this Senate Education Committee witness slip to:
Senator Brenner, Committee Chair (R) @ brenner@ohiosenate.gov
Senator O’Brien, Vice Chair (R)@ obrien@ohiosenate.gov
Email a courtesy copy of your testimony to Senators Ingram, Ranking (D) @ ingram@Ohiosenate.gov and Sykes (D) @ sykes@ohiosenate.gov as an FYI
For tips on how to write and submit written and/or in-person testimony: CLICK HERE
To testify in person, join us in the Senate South Hearing Room (or before the hearing in the Ladies Gallery) on TUESDAY, Dec 10th.
There will be camaraderie and solidarity in the Ladies Gallery before and after the hearing
Statehouse MAP & Parking information.
TAKE ACTION – OPTION 2
Call and email ANY and ALL legislators
Tell them to VOTE NO ON HB 8!
Don’t know what to say? TIPS FOR YOU:
- Check out this sample call script
- Read the one-pager above!
- Call after business hours to leave a message and re-record if you mess up!
To busy to write a proper email? Use the ACLU HB 8 Email Form to get ‘er done!
SENATE EDUCATION COMMITTEE CONTACT INFO:
- Sen. Brenner (R) District 19 – brenner@ohiosenate.gov – 614-466-8086
- Sen. O’Brien (R) District 32 – obrien@ohiosenate.gov – 614-466-7182
- Sen. Ingram (D) District 9 – ingram@ohiosenate.gov – 614-466-5980
- Sen. Blessing (R) District 8 – blessing@ohiosenate.gov – (614) 466-8068
- Sen. S. Huffman (R) District 5 – huffman@ohiosenate.gov – (614) 466-6247
- Sen. Reynolds (R) District 3 – reynolds@ohiosenate.gov – (614) 466-8064
- Sen. Sykes (D) District – sykes@ohiosenate.gov – (614) 466-7041
Find your Ohio Representative and call and email them, too!
TAKE ACTION – OPTION 3
Join us in the Statehouse Halls & help us make some noise!
December 10 @ 230 pm – 5 pm
South Hearing Room
Wear your rainbows and trans PRIDE colors!
TAKE ACTION – OPTION 4
Call and email Governor DeWine and urge him to OPPOSE HB 8.
Phone: (614) 644-4357
Email: Governor Email Website Form
MEETING ANNOUNCEMENT:
Strength in Numbers Parent & Caregiver VIRTUAL Group
NEXT MEETING: Sunday, Dec 15 @ 8 pm
Find all the details on our EVENTS page.
UPDATES - November 20, 2024
STATUS OF SB 104/HB 183:
Gov. DeWine signed SB 104 (trans bathroom ban) on November 26.
The Ohio Senate sent SB 104 to Governor DeWine to sign. This bill now includes HB 183, the harmful and discriminatory bill that bans transgender students and staff from using the bathroom that aligns with their gender identity in K-12, colleges, universities, and trade schools. Find the ban in Sections 3319.90 and 3345.90 (pages 53-58) of this SB 104 PDF.
Our pleas fell on deaf ears. We told him:
- You determined that trans children EXIST while researching HB 68, and you fought for them!
- If transgender children exist, THEY NEED TO USE THE BATHROOM at school.
- Not all K-12 and university buildings have single-use restrooms. Faculty restrooms may require kids to parade through faculty lounges. AWKWARD! Single use restrooms can be far away.
- SB 104 does NOT REQUIRE schools to make “family” bathrooms available, which will leave some kids without bathrooms and is a sneaky way to word this bill to avoid the dreaded “unfunded mandate” label.
- With NAZI’s taking to the streets in Columbus and texts threatening LGBTQ individuals, banning a group of children and college students from spaces for “safety” reasons labels them “dangerous.” Trans students are not dangerous. They are safer in the bathroom that aligns with their gender identity. It’s not ok to “ban” them just because a few people are uncomfortable.
- Trans kids and students are human beings. Bathrooms are a human right.
- Tell DeWine: Do the right thing and veto SB 104!
We will have more information for you on the impact of SB 104 soon
Strength in Numbers Parent & Caregiver Meeting:
Sunday, Nov 24 @ 8 pm
Find all the details on our EVENTS page.
Find slides from our last meeting here: https://www.transohio.org/
IMPORTANT DATES
11/20: Transgender Day of Remembrance – FIND EVENTS & INFO HERE
11/19 @ 3 pm: Senate Education Committee – South Hearing Room
- ALL testimony: S. B. No. 293: Mandatory Right to Release for Religious Ed during the school day
- The deadline to submit testimony has passed.
- Some of our leadership team will be there to show our opposition to this bill.
11/20 @ 930 am: House Higher Ed Committee – RM 115
UPDATES - November 8, 2024
By Jeanne Ogden, Trans Allies of Ohio Co-founder
November 8, 2024 – Columbus, Ohio
HEARING ALERTS
HB 445: Release Time for Religious Education
- Tuesday – November 12 @ 11 am – Statehouse RM 113
- House Primary and Secondary Education Committee
- INVITED OPPONENT TESTIMONY ONLY
- We are not recommending community members attend this hearing
Senate Bill 293: Release Time for Religious Education
- Tuesday – November 12 @ 3 pm – Statehouse, Senate South Hearing Room
- Senate Education Committee
- SPONSOR TESTIMONY ONLY
- We are not recommending community members attend this hearing
WHAT YOU CAN DO >>>
Read H4OE SUMMARY of why these are harmful bills
Check out H4OE’S TOOLKIT to learn how to organize against HB 445 and SB 293
EMAIL or CALL the following Representatives and Senators to tell them we don’t want mandatory Release time for Religious Education in Ohio.
- Ohio House Primary and Secondary Education Committee
- Ohio Senate Education Committee
- Your own Ohio House Representative and Ohio Senator
These two bills are identical. The reason they are identical is that both the House and Senate can hear testimony, debate, and vote them to the House and Senate Floor simultaneously. It indicates the Ohio Legislature hopes to pass this bill prior to the end of this General Assembly (December 31, 2024). This bill is concerning because it makes it mandatory for schools to allow children to leave campus during the school day and be bussed or driven to a secondary location to receive religious instruction.
This bill is being pushed by the Center for Christian Virtue and LifeWise Academy, who are both poised to start programming across the entire State of Ohio.
Follow HONESTY FOR OHIO EDUCATION for information and CALLS TO ACTION on HB 445 and SB 293.
UPDATES - November 7, 2024
By Jeanne Ogden (she/her), Trans Allies of Ohio Co-founder
November 7, 2024 – Columbus – We at Trans Allies of Ohio understand what the results of this election could potentially mean for members of the trans community and families with transgender children. We also know the community is strong and resilient. We will stand strong with you.
For information and resources, start with TransOhio.org and The Buckeye Flame.
BUSINESSES and ORGANIZATIONS – HOW YOU CAN HELP: If you have any real goods, resources, or expertise to share, PLEASE FILL OUT THIS FORM for businesses and organizations or email Jeanne Ogden at info@transalliesohio.org.
INDIVIDUALS & SMALL GROUPS OF FRIENDS OR FAMILY – HOW YOU CAN HELP: If you wish to help, PLEASE FILL OUT THIS FORM to join our email list, and follow TransOhio, Honesty for Ohio Education, The Buckeye Flame, and the Ohio Capital Journal.
We will have more to share soon.
COURT WATCH
July 15 – 19, 2024 – HB 68 lawsuit tried in Franklin County Common Pleas Court
August 6, 2024: HB 68 Becomes Effective
Judge Holbrook of Franklin County Court of Common Pleas rules against Ohio families of transgender youth, lifts the restraining order, and HB 68 goes into effect.
August 8, 2024: A Motion for and Injunction is filed
Plaintiffs, represented by ACLU of Ohio and the law firm Goodwin files a motion with the 10th Circuit Court of Appeals for an injunction (restraining order) to place enforcement of HB 68 on hold. To date (Aug 21), the court has not ruled on this motion. HB 68 is in effect as of Aug 21, 2024.
September 11, 2024: Ohio Appeals Court will hear oral arguments on HB 68.
The Appeals Court heard oral arguments and has not ruled. The ban is still effective.
MORE INFORMATION ON HB 68 LAWSUIT
Find lawsuit documents by plugging in “Madeline Moe” and Court Case: 24 CV 002481 in the Court’s “Find my Case” search engine.
3/26/24 – ACLU of Ohio files lawsuit in Franklin County Court of Common Pleas on the grounds HB 68 violates Ohio’s Constitution
4/16/24 – Temporary Restraining Order barring implementation of H.B. 68 Granted by Judge Holbrook in Franklin County Court of Common Pleas
5/2/24 – Court Order scheduling trial for July 15, 2024 @ 9 am on the merits on the merits of ACLU of Ohio’s lawsuit & extension of TRO until the end of that trial.
Please follow ACLU of Ohio and TransOhio for updates.