On November 27th, Governor DeWine signed SB 104 which amended parts of the Ohio Revised Code regarding the College Credit Plus program, as well as enacted the Protect All Students Act which bars transgender identifying persons from using bathrooms that aren’t of their biologically assigned sex. The bill passed the Ohio House shortly before their summer break, with senate passage happening in late November. Many legislators and state leaders alike urged Republican Governor DeWine to sign the bill, with opposition urging him to veto it. The bill officially became Ohio Law upon Gov. DeWine’s signature and will become effective in February of next year.
Responses
The bill’s primary sponsors were State Representatives Beth Lear [R-Galena] and Adam Bird [R-New Richmond], issued their statements of thanks to the Governor on signing the legislation.
“We are thankful that individuals will not have to worry about members of the opposite sex coming into restrooms, locker rooms, and changing rooms in Ohio,” said Rep. Bird. “Thank you, Governor DeWine, for signing this important legislation and keeping students safe.”
Other top state officials defended the bill and its signing, though Lt. Governor Jon Husted expressed his disdain that something like this bill should’ve even had to have been made law.
“It’s a sad situation that in this time in life that we actually need to pass a law that says that boys should go to boys’ bathrooms and girls should go to girls’ bathrooms,” Lt. Gov. Husted said in a FOX News interview, “But that indeed is the case because we have colleges and some high schools where they blurred the lines. And we need to make sure that there are safe places, particularly for young women, to go to the bathroom, be in a locker room, be in a safe place.”
Opponents of the bill condemned what they felt to have been an affront to human rights. ACLU of Ohio Executive Director Dwayne Steward spoke on the organization’s behalf in a released statement condemning the Governor’s signature of SB 104.
“We are deeply disappointed that Governor DeWine has allowed this dangerous bill to become law that puts vulnerable trans youth at risk for abuse and harassment,” Steward said. He continued noting how the ACLU will continue to fight, “for a state that embraces and respects all its residents.”
National Context
Ohio is the 14th state in the country to have a law of this kind that bars transgender individuals from using bathrooms not of their biological sex. Notably, Fmr. GOP Presidential Candidate and FL Gov. Ron DeSantis has arguably led the charge against wokeness and particularly men in women’s sports as well as restrooms.
“A woman should not be in a locker room, having to worry about someone from the opposite sex being in their locker room,” DeSantis said when signing a similar bill in May of last year.
As these cultural battles in identity politics rage on, one wonders how, with 2025 looming on the horizon, an incoming Presidential Administration will attempt to stop the divide.
