Columbus, OH – Today, the Ohio Senate passed Senate Bill 104, an anti-trans bathroom bill requiring individuals in primary and secondary schools as well as institutions of higher education to use restrooms and other facilities that align with their sex assigned at birth. Previously introduced as House Bill 183, in June, the Ohio House amended a completely unrelated bill, SB 104, to include the harmful anti-trans bathroom provisions. The Senate concurred with those changes by a vote of 24 to 7 during a floor vote on Wednesday.
Senate Bill 104 now moves to Governor DeWine’s desk, where he will have 10 days to sign it into law once received. The ACLU of Ohio strongly urges Governor DeWine to veto this bill and protect the rights and privacy of LGBTQ+ Ohioans statewide.
Jocelyn Rosnick, Policy Director for the American Civil Liberties Union of Ohio offered the following statement, condemning the Senate vote and the passage of this bill:
“We are incredibly disheartened by the Ohio General Assembly’s continuous attacks against transgender and gender non-conforming individuals across Ohio. Senate Bill 104 is a cruel invasion of students’ rights to privacy, which could result in unwarranted governmental disclosures of private, personal information. If allowed to go into effect, SB 104 will create unsafe environments for trans and gender non-confirming individuals of all ages. This 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. All Ohioans deserve to access the facilities they need, in alignment with their gender identity, without fear of harassment or bullying. The ACLU of Ohio remains steadfast in our commitment to standing with trans Ohioans and is closely considering next steps.”
