COLUMBUS, Ohio — Around 110 individuals voiced their concerns on Wednesday regarding House Bill 183, which proposes requiring students to use bathrooms aligned with the sex listed on their birth certificates. Notably, no proponents spoke in favor of the bill during this session, though its sponsors had previously expressed support.
Testimony was provided by a diverse group, including church leaders, school board members, LGBTQ+ activists, and the general public. They submitted their opinions to the Ohio House’s Higher Education Committee, responsible for overseeing the bill.
Representatives Beth Lear and Adam Bird, both Republicans and co-sponsors of House Bill 183, maintain that the legislation seeks to protect young people by ensuring bathroom usage aligns with their biological sex. They argue that individuals cannot change their biological sex.
Maria Bruno, Public Policy Director for Equality Ohio, raised concerns about the enforceability of the bill and its conflict with U.S. Supreme Court decisions from 2020 and Title IX rules.
Rev. Alice Connor of the Dioceses of the Episcopal Church in Ohio testified against the bill, emphasizing that the perspectives of religious supporters do not represent her views or those of many other faithful people.
Scott DiMauro, President of the Ohio Education Association, expressed concerns that the bill distracts from addressing policies that genuinely support educators.
Micah Mitchell of the ACLU of Ohio argued that the law, if passed, would be unwieldy to enforce and discriminatory against transgender and intersex individuals. Mitchell emphasized the belief that all students deserve equal access to facilities that align with their gender identity.