Ohio Republicans Introduce Bill to Ban Trans Students From Bathrooms in Schools and Universities

More than 20 Ohio Republicans have signed onto a bill that would restrict bathroom access for transgender people at all Ohio schools and universities.

HB 183 was introduced on Tuesday by Representatives Beth Lear (R-Galena) and Adam Bird (R-New Richmond), along with 19 other Republican co-sponsors.

The bill begins by defining biological sex as “the condition of being either female or male” according to the official birth record issued at or near the time of birth, which denies the existence of intersex people.

The bill would require that all restrooms and locker rooms be designated for use by individuals who are one “biological sex.” This would eliminate multi-stall inclusive restrooms, like the one at Cleveland State University.

The bill would also restrict schools from granting trans students access to a bathroom that doesn’t correspond with the gender assigned to them at birth, eliminating accommodations for trans students that school staff have arranged across the state.

Finally, the bill would prohibit “a member of the female biological sex to share overnight accommodation with a member of the male biological sex” and vice versa, seemingly in an attempt to address the sleeping arrangement of trans students during overnight field trips or athletic competitions. This part of the language does not specify students, so it could potentially apply to educators as well.

LGBTQ+ advocates noted that this marks the first time lawmakers have introduced a “bathroom bill” in Ohio.

“I think that our lawmakers have just decided to get on this national bandwagon of hate,” said Kathryn Poe of Equality Ohio. “This bill is just a continued attack on trans youth.”

HB 183 has not yet been assigned to a committee.