Ohio House committee passes bill to ban LGBTQ+ from playing girls’ and women’s sports

COLUMBUS — An education panel in the Ohio House passed a ban on transgender student-athletes from playing on girls’ and women’s sports teams on Wednesday.

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It passed along party lines and would require K-12 schools as well as universities to designate “separate teams” for males and female sexes but ban transgender girls from participating in girls’ sports, according to the Associated Press.

The proposal would leave the door open for transgender athletes to play on male or co-ed teams.

At least 20 other states have passed similar bills.

The AP reported that the Ohio bill nearly made it through the House and Senate last fall but died after being tacked on to an education overhaul bill with mixed reviews among GOP legislators.

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Supporters say the proposal is about fairness in competition and maintaining the “integrity of women’s sports.”

Opponents say the bill is cruel to children who just want to play sports and build friendships with teammates that align with their gender identity, the AP said.

Governor DeWine had previously questioned the need for a ban back in 2021. He said OHSAA already has an existing authority that can make the best decision for their athletes without help from the legislature, the AP reported.

The full Ohio House could vote on the measure as early as next week.

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