Ohio Republican lawmakers passed a bill banning transgender students from using the bathroom that aligns with their gender identity. Gov. Mike DeWine has already agreed to sign the legislation that impacts K-12 and colleges.
“Being seen in a bathroom where it doesn’t look like you belong puts transgender students in danger,” college student Leo Duru said.
Duru came out as transgender when he was 12 — and said he had been verbally and physically harassed and attacked after entering bathrooms that didn’t align with his identity as a trans man.
“I still overthink every move I make and try to leave during classes so that fewer people will be in the restrooms,” he said.
Now, he fears what will happen under Ohio’s soon-to-be law.
The Senate passed S.B. 104 , which requires all public schools and colleges to mandate that students can only use the bathroom or locker room that matches their sex assigned at birth. Originally, state Rep. Adam Bird (R-New Richmond introduced this in House Bill 183, but the legislation was slid into an uncontroversial and unrelated bill as an amendment at 11 p.m. during the last session before the summer recess.