Ohio governor signs law restricting bathroom use based on biological sex

1

Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine signed Senate Bill 104 on Wednesday, which would require K-12 schools and colleges in the state to restrict the use of restrooms, locker rooms and similar facilities based on biological sex. The law prohibits the establishment of cross-gender or gender-neutral facilities in schools.

• The law applies to all public and non-public K-12 schools and colleges in Ohio and requires that institutions be exclusively designed for male or female biological sex.
• Schools are prohibited from creating or maintaining facilities open to all genders at the same time.
• DeWine’s decision follows a history of controversial legislation on transgender issues, including a defeated bill on medical procedures for minors.
• Similar laws in other states, such as Idaho, faced legal challenges but set a precedent for this type of legislation.

Ohio passes a law banning male students from using girls’ restrooms

Ohio Republican Gov. Mike DeWine signed a bill Wednesday banning biological males from using girls’ restrooms, locker rooms and other facilities in schools.

According to the text of the bill, the policy applies to all public and non-public K-12 schools and all colleges and universities in the state. Schools are prohibited from setting up facilities that are open to both genders at the same time.

“A school must designate all student restrooms, locker rooms, locker rooms, and shower rooms that are accessible to multiple students at the same time, whether located in a school building or in a facility used by the school for a school-sponsored activity “, for exclusive use only by students of male biological sex or only by students of female biological sex,” the draft law states. “No school shall permit a member of the male biological sex to use a student restroom, locker room, locker room or shower room designated by the school solely for the use of the female biological sex. No school shall establish, furnish, or maintain a multi-occupancy facility that is designated as gender-neutral, multi-gender, or open to all genders.”

Senate Bill 104 passed the state Senate and House of Representatives in early November and was presented to the governor on November 14th. This was the last day the governor could sign or veto the bill before it became law without his signature.

DeWine previously vetoed legislation that would have banned sex reassignment procedures for minors before signing an executive order a week later in January that banned sex reassignment surgeries but allowed puberty blockers and cross-sex hormones. The Ohio Senate later overrode the governor’s veto, but the bill has since been challenged by a state judge.

The governor has reportedly received over $40,000 in donations from children’s hospitals that support transgender medicine.

A similar law in Idaho banning sex reassignment surgery, puberty blockers and cross-sex hormones for minors reached the Supreme Court after a legal challenge but was later upheld. Several states have enacted laws to protect minors from transgender medicine.

Many school districts have policies that allow schools to hide children’s gender identities from their parents. Many of these have been challenged in court.

DeWine did not immediately respond to the Daily Caller News Foundation’s request for comment.

All content produced by the Daily Caller News Foundation, an independent and nonpartisan news service, is available free of charge to any reputable news publisher capable of reaching a large audience. All republished articles must include our logo, our reporter’s name, and their DCNF affiliation. If you have any questions about our policies or how to work with us, please contact [email protected].