Equality Ohio strongly opposes Sub. HB 96, the latest version of Ohio’s state budget, which directly threatens public education, democracy, and marginalized communities, including LGBTQ+ Ohioans.

“As Bayard Rustin taught us, we must always organize, educate, and resist injustice wherever it appears. The latest version of Ohio’s state budget is an assault on fairness, education, and the well-being of our communities. It’s clear that in order to secure votes for a limited school budget, lawmakers had to manufacture a culture war issue—and, as usual, our communities are the target, said Dwayne Steward, Executive Director of Equality Ohio. This is the most reckless bill to come out of the Ohio legislature. By restricting access to LGBTQ+ materials in public libraries, criminalizing support for transgender youth, and defining gender in narrow, exclusionary terms, lawmakers are using Sub HB 96 to push the dangerous agenda of erasure and control. These policies threaten free access to information, the mental health of houseless and vulnerable youth, and even the ability of trans people to access medical care and social support. Let’s be clear: No public funds should be weaponized to dismantle our rights or erase our existence. This is censorship. This is harm. And we must resist—together, for a future where every young person can see themselves and their families reflected in their libraries, their schools, and their communities.” 

• Defining Gender as only two sexes. 
• Requirement that all books in libraries that reference sexual orientation or gender identity be made inaccessible to minors.
• Prohibition on funding for homeless shelters that are affirming a young person’s social transition. 
• Requires public libraries to segregate materials related to sexual orientation and gender identity, restricting access for young people under 18.
• Dismantles the bipartisan Fair School Funding Plan.
• Funnels more public tax dollars into private schools with little oversight.
• Strips Ohioans of elected representation on the State Board of Education.
• Enforces outdated retention policies that disproportionately harm LGBTQ+, Black, and brown students.
• Pushes government overreach into public education with forced religious instruction time.

Equality Ohio urges Ohioans to take action against Sub. HB 96 before it advances further:

Call House Speaker Matt Huffman: (614) 466-6344

Call Governor DeWine: (614) 644-4357
Call House Finance Committee Members:

• Chair Brian Stewart (R): (614) 466-1464
• Vice Chair Michael Dovilla (R): (614) 466-4895
• Ranking Member Bride Rose Sweeney (D): (614) 466-3350

Find Your Representative & Contact Them Directly: https://www.legislature.ohio.gov/members/district-maps

Attend a Rally Near You! This Saturday, Hands Off is hosting rallies across the state: https://www.mobilize.us/handsoff/?emci=0bc7ba14-330f-f011-90cd-0022482a9fb7&emdi=ba2bb1dd-440f-f011-90cd-0022482a9fb7&ceid=3971148

(Disclaimer: Equality Ohio is not an organizer for these events.)

Stay updated and elevate the message:

• Visit our Linktree for our social media handles, action toolkits and updates: https://linktr.ee/EqualityOhio 
• Join our statewide email list for alerts and next steps: https://equalityohio.org/sign-up-for-the-latest-news-from-equality-ohio/ 
• About Equality Ohio

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Equality Ohio is a statewide nonprofit organization advocating for legal and lived equality for LGBTQ+ Ohioans. Through policy advocacy, legal services, and public education, we work to ensure that Ohio is a state where all people can thrive, regardless of sexual orientation, gender identity, or gender expression.