Ohio’s transgender bathroom ban heads to the governor’s desk

A transgender bathroom ban has been sent to Ohio Governor Mike DeWine’s desk after passing through the state legislature.

The bill requires students in the state’s elementary schools, as well as colleges and universities, to use the restroom or facility that corresponds to the sex they were assigned at birth. The bill notes that it is not intended to prevent schools from building single-occupancy facilities and does not prohibit someone of the opposite sex from entering to assist someone else.

The Republican-backed bill passed the House of Representatives by a vote of 60 to 31 and the Senate by a vote of 24 to 7.

Advocates say their concerns lie in student privacy and protection.

“It protects our children and grandchildren in private spaces where they are most vulnerable. We use our legislative power to ensure that schools are, in fact, a safe environment. After all, bathrooms, showers and changing rooms should all be safe places for our children. students,” Republican Senator Jerry C. Cirino said prior to the bill’s passage.

Critics of the bill say the bill creates unfounded concerns about transgender students and could place trans students instead at risk of discrimination or violence.

“I do not believe this is a top priority in our first session back from the recess,” Senate Democratic Leader Nickie J. Antonio said in an online statement. “There are so many other issues we should be working on. There should be no exception. towards freedom and justice for all, but here we tell our children that there are people who are less than the toilet. It is not about demonizing those who are different, and our children are watching and listening to the fear mongering.”

Several medical organizations, including the American Medical Association and American Academy of Pediatrics, have opposed policies that prevent transgender people from accessing restrooms consistent with their gender identity.

MORE: New Title IX regulations intensify fight over restrictions on transgender youth in schools

DeWine, a Republican, has previously spoken out against state Republican lawmakers on transgender issues. He vetoed a bill banning transgender youth carewhich would have limited gender-affirming puberty blockers, hormone therapy or surgery.

“These are heartbreaking decisions that must be made by parents and informed by teams of physicians advising them,” DeWine said, adding that he found no families or hospitals that sought or allowed surgeries for young people. “These are parents who have seen the child suffer, sometimes for years, and who have real concerns that their child may not survive.”

DeWine’s office declined ABC News’ request for comment on the bill. He told reporters last summer that he needed to look at “specific language” in the legislation.

“I’m in favor of people, children, being able to go to the bathroom with gender assignment so that they have that protection, but I’ll have to look at the specific language,” DeWine told reporters .

Ohio’s transgender bathroom ban heads to the governor’s desk originally appeared on abcnews.go.com