Rep. Forhan Condemns Anti-LGBTQIA+ Catholic Diocese of Cleveland Policy

COLUMBUS – State Rep. Elliot Forhan (D-South Euclid) today condemned the new policy implemented last week by the Catholic Diocese of Cleveland that lists new anti-LGBTQIA+ rules for churches and schools across Northeast Ohio.

“The schools in our community should serve as a safe, welcoming space for all youth and community members. Instead, the Catholic Diocese of Cleveland has alienated the LGBTQIA+ community and placed in danger our transgender youth. Many members of my family attended schools in the diocese, and my parents—two women—celebrated proudly this year their 46th anniversary. The policy is shameful. The diocese should rescind it immediately and apologize,” said Rep. Forhan. “To all the LGBTQIA+ individuals and their families impacted by this in any way; please know my entire extended family is Catholic. My parents were raised Catholic. I might well have been raised Catholic but for policies like the one that the Cleveland Diocese implemented last week. Please know that you are loved and supported by me and many others. We stand with you.”

The Catholic Diocese’s new policy bans students and staff from utilizing gender-affirming care, their chosen pronouns, and requires staff members to inform parents if a student is experiencing gender dysphoria. Additionally, the policy prohibits transgender girls from playing in girls’ sports and prevents students at school events from publicly displaying or expressing sexual attraction to or romantic interest in members of the same sex.