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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
In the final hours of the Ohio General Assembly's lame-duck session, lawmakers worked late into the night to push through a series of harmful and deeply problematic bills. Chief among them is House Bill 8, which I am calling the Unsafe Student Act.
Marketed as a “Parents’ Rights” bill, HB 8 is Ohio’s version of a “Don’t Say Gay” and “Don’t Say Trans” law. This legislation would force schools to disclose a student's LGBTQ+ identity to their parents, regardless of the student’s wishes or safety concerns. It would also greatly restrict any mention of LGBTQ+ people, issues, or history in classrooms, erasing the contributions and lived experiences of countless Ohioans from the educational narrative.
For many LGBTQ+ youth, school is their only safe haven—a place where they can be themselves without fear of judgment or harm. HB 8 destroys that trust and leaves vulnerable students with nowhere to turn. The potential consequences are chilling. Forced outings could lead to punishment, rejection, or even abuse. In the most tragic cases, like that of Leelah Alcorn—a transgender Ohio teen whose parents isolated her, forced her into conversion therapy, and denied her gender identity—this lack of support can have fatal consequences. HB 8 opens the door to more stories like Leelah’s, and Ohio’s lawmakers should be ashamed for prioritizing politics over the safety of our children.
HB 8 also includes an unrelated provision requiring schools to release students during the school day for "religious education." This appears to be a deliberate attempt to enable programs like Lifewise to infiltrate public schools under the guise of religious instruction. Beyond interfering with the instructional mission of public schools, this provision marginalizes students who belong to minority faiths or hold no religious beliefs, further eroding the separation of church and state.
Ohio’s lame-duck sessions have become a dangerous free-for-all for pushing through unpopular and damaging legislation. This reckless process needs to stop. Laws that affect the lives of millions of Ohioans, especially our most vulnerable students, deserve transparency and thoughtful debate—not rushed votes under the cover of night.
HB 8 is yet another example of the Ohio GOP’s vendetta-driven politics. But even worse, it is a direct attack on LGBTQ+ students, their rights, and their futures. I will continue fighting to defend Ohio’s students, push back against hate, and uphold the principles of equality, safety, and real parental support.
Arienne Childrey
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