Skip to main content
State Seal State Seal State Seal
Home Button Home Button Home Button
 
 
 

Extremists Shamelessly Promote Hate, State-Sponsored Bullying With Passage of Anti-Trans Bill

December 20, 2023
Phillip M. Robinson, Jr. News

COLUMBUS — State Rep. Phil Robinson (D-Solon) today called on Governor Mike DeWine to veto the Bully Trans Kids Act: House Bill (HB) 68, anti-trans legislation, that would ban gender affirming care and ban trans kids from participating in sports.

“The passage and even the conversations and rhetoric around HB 68 and similar bills are not happening in a vacuum. Pushing these bills is firing up dangerous hate in our state,” said Rep. Robinson. “Not far from outside my district in Chesterland, OH, there is a United Church of Christ church that is openly supportive of the LGBTQ+ community. The church was planning to host two drag events in April. In response, a man who is a member of the neo-Nazi group White Lives Matter Ohio attempted to firebomb the church with a Molotov cocktail. The fire bomber claimed to do this in order ‘to protect the children.’ Both words and actions have consequences.”

As a member of the Higher Education Committee, Rep. Robinson heard testimony about the Transgender Student Athlete Ban bill (HB 6), which was added as an amendment to HB 68 in the Public Health Policy committee. Rep. Robinson has spoken out against past attempts at a transgender student athlete ban, like HB 61 of the 134th General Assembly.

“I recommend everyone take the time to listen to the HB 6 and HB 68 opposition hearings on these bills. In the constituent messages and hearings on these bills, I heard the personal experiences of LGBTQ+ students who have faced struggles even without laws that would make their lives even harder and potentially more dangerous,” added Rep. Robinson. “I strongly recommend that Gov. DeWine listen to these testimonies, do the right thing, and veto the Bully Trans Kids Act, before any LGBTQ+ youth are hurt by this extremist legislation.”

According to a non-profit group which focuses on suicide prevention for LGTBQ+ youth, The Trevor Project, LGBTQ+ Ohioans face higher rates of violence, suicide and mental health issues simply because of who they are. The project’s 2022 data shows 46% of LGBTQ+ Youth in Ohio have seriously considered suicide in the last year, including 54% of transgender and non-binary youth.

So far in 2023, there have been more than 500 anti-LGBTQ+ bills introduced in states across the US. This is just one of many factors prompting the Human Rights Campaign to declare a “State of Emergency '' for LGTBQ+ Americans. 

Rep. Robinson recently signed onto a letter with other House Democrats asking Gov. DeWine to veto HB 68. House Democrats continue to put people first and will always stand with the LGTBQ+ community, championing legislation that protects their rights and recognizes them as vital members of our communities, no matter who you are in our state.

Click on the hyperlinks below for personal stories and opposition testimony to the anti-LGBTQ+ bills in House committee hearings: