Extremists Force Anti-Trans Bathroom Ban Vote, Continue Attacks on LGBTQ+ Community

COLUMBUS – State Rep. Anita Somani (D-Dublin) today released the following statement following the calculated move Wednesday by extremist Republicans to wait till the end of the 12-hour House session, in the middle of the night when the public wasn’t paying attention, to introduce an amendment and force a floor vote on Senate Bill (SB) 104, the Anti-Trans Bathroom Ban:

“This attempt to pass legislation that will be overturned by the courts is another example of how extremists waste money and target our most vulnerable communities. Ohio’s youth deserve to live in a state where they feel safe to be their authentic selves. The focus should be on improving things like mental health and childhood poverty. Bigotry and fear-mongering have no place in the Statehouse,” said Rep. Somani.

Senate Bill 104 now heads to the Senate for consideration. Make sure you contact your state senator, Sen. Stephanie Kunze (R-Dublin) at (614) 466-5981 or kunze@ohiosenate.gov to tell her to vote “no” on Senate Bill 104. 

Anti-trans legislation such as the Anti-Trans Bathroom Ban (Senate Bill 104), the Anti-Trans Sports Ban (House Bill 6) and the Ban on Gender Affirming Care (House Bill 68) have been introduced by Republicans during this General Assembly. These bills would destroy Ohioans civil rights and set our state backwards, jeopardizing the work activists, citizens, and leaders have done to make Ohio a welcoming and safe state for all.