Ohio governor signs bill limiting bathroom use by transgender students
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Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine talks to reporters during the Republican National Convention on July 15, 2024, in Milwaukee. | Paul Sancya/AP
Ohio Governor Mike DeWine has signed a controversial bill limiting bathroom access for transgender students in the state, drawing criticism from civil rights groups, educators, and Democrats. The bill, which is set to take effect in 90 days, mandates that transgender students from kindergarten through college must use multiperson bathrooms that correspond to their sex assigned at birth, rather than their gender identity. The move adds Ohio to the growing number of states passing laws that limit rights for transgender individuals.
The legislation, titled the “Protect All Students Act,” was passed by the Republican-led legislature and signed into law by DeWine despite pushback from various groups who had hoped the governor would veto the measure. Last year, DeWine rejected a proposed ban on gender-affirming care for minors, and some had hoped his earlier stance would lead him to block this bathroom restriction. However, he issued no public statement upon signing the bill.
The law mandates that all public and private schools, colleges, and universities in Ohio must designate separate bathrooms, locker rooms, and overnight accommodations for males and females based on birth-assigned sex. The bill requires that school facilities used for school-sponsored events must comply with these regulations. However, it contains no enforcement provisions and includes exemptions for situations involving school employees, emergencies, or individuals assisting people with disabilities.
Supporters of the bill, including Republican state Senator Jerry Cirino, argue that the measure is about protecting children in “private spaces” and ensuring their safety and security. “It protects our children and grandchildren in private spaces where they are most vulnerable,” Cirino said. Aaron Baer, president of the Center for Christian Virtue, a group that supported the bill, praised DeWine’s decision, claiming it would better protect Ohio children by ensuring they are not forced into shared spaces with students of the opposite sex.
On the other hand, opponents of the bill, including the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) of Ohio, argue that it violates the privacy rights of transgender students and creates a more dangerous and discriminatory environment for LGBTQ+ individuals. The ACLU condemned the bill, saying it will make transgender students less safe and stigmatize them by denying them access to facilities that align with their gender identity.
The Ohio legislation is part of a broader national effort among Republican lawmakers to limit the rights of transgender individuals. The bill follows a series of other similar laws passed in multiple states, including measures that bar transgender girls and women from participating in female sports competitions or using facilities corresponding to their gender identity. To date, 26 states have passed laws restricting or banning gender-affirming care for minors. Additionally, at least 11 states, including Ohio, have passed laws banning transgender students from using bathrooms that align with their gender identity in public schools.
The debate surrounding these issues intensified in recent years, particularly as transgender visibility and acceptance grew in some areas. In the political realm, the issue has also been a significant focus for conservative figures like former President Donald Trump, who made opposition to transgender rights a focal point of his 2024 campaign. Trump has vowed to “keep men out of women’s sports” and criticized policies supporting gender-affirming care.
Ohio’s bathroom bill was debated for nearly two years before being passed by the GOP-led legislature on November 13, 2023, during Transgender Awareness Week. It was included as an amendment to a separate piece of legislation related to the state’s College Credit Plus program, which allows high school students to earn college credits. The bill’s passage marked another victory for Republicans pushing back against transgender rights in public schools and institutions.
The law follows the implementation of another controversial measure in Ohio that bans gender-affirming care for minors and bars transgender girls and women from participating in women’s sports. That law took effect in August after the legislature overrode DeWine’s veto. The law’s enforcement was delayed by a judge for several months, but it was eventually allowed to proceed.
In addition to Ohio, several other states, including Texas, are considering similar measures for 2025. Proposed legislation in Texas aims to further restrict gender-affirming care and allow minors who have received such care to file lawsuits against their doctors later in life. Other states with similar laws restricting transgender rights are preparing to introduce additional legislation to limit access to public facilities and participation in sports based on gender identity.
As the debate over transgender rights continues to evolve in state legislatures across the country, the issue remains a contentious and divisive one, with significant legal and societal implications for transgender individuals, particularly students, and their access to public spaces and services.
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