Proposed state bill on transgender restrictions is about equality, access, opposing sides say

OAKWOOD — For two people who have taken sides about legislation headed to the Ohio Senate that could put restrictions on how transgender youth live in Ohio, the issues are about equality, protection and access.

>> RELATED: Ohio House passes bans on transgender student athletes, gender-affirming care for minors

“It’s sad in Pride Month of all months for this to be happening,” Rick Flynn, executive director, Greater Dayton LGBT Center, told News Center 7 on Thursday.

Rep. Jena Powell, Ohio’s 80th House District (Arcanum), said, “Ultimately, we want to protect children in our state.”

The Ohio House on Wednesday passed a bill that would prohibit minors from receiving gender-affirming care and transgender student athletes from participating in girl’s and women’s sports.

One section of the bill, the Save Women’s Sports Act, would allow only biological females to participate in female sports.

“There is a biological difference between male and female at the time of birth,” Powell said. “And what we’re seeing around the nation is biological males ending up on the gold podium over women.”

Powell approves the proposal.

“Women deserve to earn a gold podium, not biological males that are competing in women’s-only sports.” she said. “It’s a fairness issue.”

Flynn disagrees with the part of the sports act proposal that also tells schools K through 12 and at the collegiate level to designate separate teams for males and females.

“We’ve learned in history that separate is not equal,” he said.

The other proposal in the House bill is the Safe Act, which focuses on gender-affirming care. If signed into law, children or young people currently using or wanting to take puberty blockers (hormone therapies) or undergo surgery would not be allowed to do so.

“Things that are harmful to children. It’s really sad to see that parents so choose to do that,” Powell said.

Flynn, who said he worries the block could put lives at risk, said, “parents should have the right to choose medical care for their child. once you deny people their rights, try to erase who they are. They’re at a higher risk for suicide.”

Powell asked rhetorically, “are you seeing any evidence of that? Absolutely not.”

She said she hopes the GOP-controlled state Senate passes the bill quickly and sends the legislation to Gov. Mike DeWine for his signature.

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