The legislators from Ohio recently conducted two interrogations in the case of the Republican bill on the appointment of the month only to honor only families led by a heterosexual couple of cisgenders throughout their lives, a monogamous relationship.
House Bill (HB) 262 He would designate the “natural family month” for the period from Mother’s Day, which is the second Sunday of May, until Father’s day, on the third Sunday of June.
First interrogation
During the first hearing of the Act, on the community auditization committee, on June 3, the sponsors of the Act clearly explained that their account was specially designed to celebrate heterosexuals, despite the fact that the actual language of the act does not specify “natural families”.
“The natural family-man and a woman united in marriage, raising their biological and/or adopted children-is a fundamental institution in our free society,” said representative Beth Lear (R-Galena), “For generations, this family structure ensured stability, nurtured moral and civic virtues and provided the general health and beneficiality of our communities.”
Account sponsors have repeatedly defended the operate of the word “natural”.
“We deliberately did not place the definition of” natural family “in the bill, because we did not want to exclude anyone or demonize anyone,” said representative Josh Williams (R-Sylvania Twp.)
“The reason I chose” natural ” [because it is] Historical, scientific and based on religious faith, “Lear said.
Rep. Karen Brownlee (D-Symmes Twp.) Asked if the bill sponsors would be open to a change in the name of the Act to “the month of all families”.
“No, ma’am. No,” Lear answered immediately.
The sponsors of the bill also recognized and rejected rejections from people representing other family makeup-in this LGBTQ+family-on the implication that their families were “unnatural”.
“We want to promote what is the healthiest for children,” Lear said. “It’s about behaving a system that is best for children. It’s about recognizing what works.”
Williams tried to create equivalence.
“Every time we try to celebrate a specific group, we usually do not see people who are not included in this group, demand the status of the victim and shouting that we exclude them,” said Williams. “We see it a bit with this bill. We are sitting here now in a month of pride. This does not rule out people who are not LGBTQ.”
However, the Pride month is not recognized by the state of Ohio, despite the fact that five bills have been introduced over the past 10 years. None of these attempts exceeded the first interrogation.
Second hearing
On June 10, a second interrogation took place with the testimony of opponents, which are in opposition to the Act.
Dwayne Steward, executive director of Equality Ohio, reminded the Committee that only a few generations ago interracial couples were announced “unnatural”.
“The idea that the state of Ohio should declare which families are” natural “-and through implications that are not-is deeply offensive to millions of Ohioans raised by lonely parents, grandparents, adoptive families or a couple of people of the same sex”
Steward also testified that HB 262 is a slippery slope that gives the status of “second -class” LGBTQ+families.
“First, they call your family” unnatural “. Then they will say that you cannot adopt, support or teach – he said. “Ohio House Bill 262 is more than bad politics – it is a calculated act of strategic erasing.”
Danielle FIRSIAN, Director of Public Policy for supporters of planned parenting in Ohio and the planned parenting of Greater Ohio, rejected the law as “this is not serious legislation.”
“This is useless proclamation of unsuccessful and excluding priorities, and not wide changes to the policy necessary to support the foundation of healthy, flowering families in our state,” said FIRSIAN.
The chairman of the Gary Click Committee (R-Vickery) repeatedly asked witnesses what is not so with the celebration of fathers and mothers.
Lis Regula, spokesman for spokesmen in men about children – a non -profit organization dealing with helping families of LGBTQ+ compilation – she answered, emphasizing that HB 262 may become “another stone for children who may not match the definition of this bill”, especially when LGBTQ+ Ohioans are stigmatized by other legislation.
“This kind of performative lifting of a group that already has so much privilege in our community is the opposite of what I consider to be a better community to our children, their children and future generations,” said Regula.
Perhaps the most moving testimonies came from the teenage daughters of the inhabitants of Columbus Rick Neal and Tom Grot.
“We were accepted by a loving, committed pair of the same sex,” he said 16 years. “My family may not match the narrow definition of” natural “, which seems to be favored, but our family is built on love, support and stability: values ​​should have every family.”
“This bill sends a harmful message to a family like ours: that we are somehow less valuable, less worthy or unnatural,” said Sophia, 13 years elderly. “It’s not only offensive, it’s bad.” Ding
Light
- You can find a list of the community revitalization committee Here.
- Buckeye Flame Ohio LGBTQ+ legislation guide for 2025 can be found here.
- To register to vote or check the status of the voter’s eligibility in the state of Ohio, Click here.
- To find contact details for a representative of the Ohio state, Click here.
