Ohio Governor Signs Anti-Trans Bathroom Bill Into Law

Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine (R) has signed into law legislation that will ban the state’s students from using school restrooms that don’t align with their sex assigned at birth.

BREAKING: Gov. DeWine signs Ohio ‘anti-trans’ bathroom bill https://t.co/edNK1dGCOA pic.twitter.com/aSUGZTezoc

— NBC4 Columbus (@nbc4i) November 27, 2024

From the local Columbus NBC affiliate:

S.B. 104 requires academic institutions to set separate bathrooms, locker rooms and overnight accommodations based on students’ “biological sex,” meaning the sex listed on a student’s birth certificate.

The bill, which also prohibits the construction of any all-gendered restrooms in schools, will go into effect in 90 days.

The ACLU of Ohio has long argued against S.B. 104’s “harmful anti-trans” provisions, and said the bill “ignores the material reality that transgender people endure higher rates of sexual violence and assaults, particularly while using public restrooms, than people who are not transgender.”

The bill passed in the Republican-controlled state Senate in a 24-7 party-line vote. I want to take a second to explain a little how difficult this makes trans kids lives. Transitioning isn’t just about medical treatment like hormone therapy. The early steps begin with “social transitioning,” a non-medical part of the transgender transition process that involves changing how you appear and act in the world. It can include: presenting as your identified gender in public, either part- or full-time; changing your name socially or legally; using different pronouns than before; and changing hair, makeup, clothes, or other aspects of appearance. So, for instance, a trans teen girl going through social transitioning may be attending school in their identified dress/appearance, but forced to use a boy’s restroom where they might encounter amped up bullying. In January, the Ohio legislature has voted to override Gov. Mike DeWine’s veto of a bill that bans transition-related medical care for transgender minors and restricts trans athletes’ participation on school sports teams.

@GovMikeDeWine signed the anti-trans bathroom bill into law.

Transgender people are part of the fabric of Ohio; our families, our workplaces, and our neighborhoods. ️‍⚧️ We remain steadfast in our commitment to the LGBTQ+ community and are closely considering next steps. pic.twitter.com/34xglRfZtj — ACLU of Ohio (@acluohio) November 27, 2024