Ohio has introduced House Bills HB616 and HB327 which, if passed, will make it so that educators are unable to discuss important topics with students K-12. HB616 is modeled after Florida's 'Don't Say Gay' Bill and states that teachers may not "teach, use, or provide any curriculum or instructional materials on sexual orientation or gender identity" in kindergarten through third grade. For older students, it places restrictions on what teachers may say "in accordance with state standards." HB327 states that 'divisive' concepts may not be covered in schools, such as the idea that “[t]he United States is fundamentally racist or sexist” or the idea that someone is “inherently racist, sexist, or oppressive, whether consciously or unconsciously” by virtue of their “nationality, color, ethnicity, race, or sex". In practice, this means that educators will not be allowed to speak on such issues as systematic racism and implicit bias.

These bills are damaging as they make it so that children are not able to access information they may desperately need. They serve directly to support the establishment of white cis heterosexuality as the norm, something that creates an environment of alienation for anyone who does not fit that norm. If passed, these bills will have a death toll; without access to the correct resources, rates of suicides amongst queer youth will rise. These bills ask educators to stay silent, lie and deny help to students who need it or risk losing their livelihood. They also encourage systematic issues, such as racism, homophobia, and transphobia, to go unchecked by implying that the mere discussion of these topics is divisive. Rather than the problems themselves, the acknowledgement of the problems is placed as the real issue.

UC YDSA, in collaboration with other organizations, renounces Ohio House bills HB616 and HB327 as well as the attitudes they stand for. In service of this aim, we have organized a protest at the Hamilton County Courthouse on May 17th, International Day Against Homophobia and Transphobia, against these bills. Join us there and demand a safe socialist future for all members of the LGBTQ+ community.