Planned Parenthood Advocates of Ohio Condemns House Passage of Anti-LGBTQ+ Bills
For Immediate Release: June 23, 2023
COLUMBUS, Ohio—Planned Parenthood Advocates of Ohio strongly condemned the passage of House Bill 68, known as the SAFE Act, and House Bill 8, known as the Parents Right To Know Act, in the Ohio House Wednesday.
The votes came a week after the Ohio House Public Health Policy Committee combined HB 6, which bars young Ohioans from participating in high-school or college sports aligned with their gender identity, with HB 68, which bans gender-affirming care for transgender and non-binary youth, to create one anti-trans omnibus bill. HB 8 similarly endangers Ohio’s LGBTQ+ youth, essentially requiring Ohio’s educators to out students to their parents.
Planned Parenthood Advocates of Ohio released the following statement in response to the bill’s passage:
“The passage of HB 8 and HB 68 today represents yet another attempt by Ohio lawmakers to invalidate, ignore, and dehumanize the reality of transgender, nonbinary, and intersex Ohioans, and is part of a larger national campaign attacking LGBTQ+ Americans.
“All children who grow up in Ohio, regardless of who they are, deserve the same experiences, opportunities, and respect that other kids have. Trans kids should be able to come out on their terms, for their own safety and well-being. Further, by preventing young people from participating in school sports that align with their gender identity and blocking their access to gender-affirming care altogether, Ohio’s elected officials are telling young trans students that they do not belong.
“Gender-affirming care is lifesaving care, and we know that when people are truly seen and cared for, their lives, their families’ lives, and their communities are better and healthier. We remain dedicated to defending the rights of LGBTQ+ Ohioans against ongoing legislative attacks, including the right to affirming health care and to access the same opportunities as their cisgender peers.”
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Planned Parenthood Advocates of Ohio supports advocacy for reproductive health and reproductive rights, including grassroots organizing, community education, and lobbying.