The Ohio House Judiciary held a second hearing on HB 639 (“Act One on the Affirmation of the Family”) on Wednesday, a bill providing protections for parents who reject their transgender children.
HB 369 redefines “affirmation” as a parent’s right to recognize only their child’s gender at birth and to avoid having their transgender child’s rejection used against them by any courts or state agencies.
Wednesday’s hearing was an opportunity for proponents to testify: those who support the bill. Witnesses included representatives from two organizations deemed anti-LGBTQ+ by the Southern Poverty Law Center, mothers with multiple children who misgendered their children, and two “lesbian Democrats” who traveled to Ohio to argue that no one is actually transgender.
The hearing began with an appearance by Megan Brock, an investigative reporter for The Daily Wire, a far-right newspaper founded by conservative provocateur Ben Shapiro.
Brock said her multi-year investigation concluded that “Cuyahoga County’s child welfare system was a breeding ground for radical gender ideology-based policies” thanks to a federal grant that allowed the county to collect demographic information on youth in foster care to best support LGBTQ+ youth, who are disproportionately overrepresented in that system.
HB 693 prevents state agencies from collecting information about a minor’s LGBTQ+ identity without the consent of a parent, legal guardian or custodian, or from maintaining a database of parents who deny their child’s LGBTQ+ identity.
After Democratic lawmakers asked Brock questions about her research quotes, Republicans on the committee quickly expressed their views.
“Talking to my constituents, people are fed up with this crap,” said Rep. DJ Swearingen (R-Huron), visibly frustrated by questions about trans identity.
Laura Bryant Hanford, a senior policy analyst at the company, was scheduled to testify next Heritage Foundationchief architect of the president’s anti-LGBTQ+ transition plan Project 2025.
Bryant Hanford spoke of the “radical ideological training that has so deeply permeated child protection systems” and that the bill would address the “poisonous” practice of affirmative action for transgender children.
“[This bill] is the result of extensive collaboration with parent advocates, policymakers and lawyers to protect children and families impacted by radical gender ideology,” said Bryant Hanford.
Matt Sharp, Senior Advisor at Alliance Defending Freedom – anti-LGBTQ+ hate group – he talked about the case of Bryan and Rebecca Gantt, a couple from Vermont who they were recently allowed to reapply for a replacement license. Their foster status was previously questioned after they said they would not confirm the child’s LGBTQ+ identity due to his or her “religious beliefs.”
“HB 693 will protect caring families here in Ohio from being forced to abandon their faith as a condition of opening their homes to children in need,” Sharp said.
Lesbian Democrats enter the room
Wednesday’s hearing from supporters also included testimony from two out-of-state witnesses – both of whom claimed to be lesbian Democrats – who spoke out against affirming affirmative action for trans youth.
One section of HB 693 would prevent any state authority from “stating or implying” that any “mental and mental health treatment” that refuses to recognize a transgender child could be called “conversion therapy.”
Jamie Reed – who describes herself online as a “courageous public whistleblower from the U.S. Pediatric Gender Clinic” who testified in 17 states in 2025 – has reframed gender-affirming care as “gay conversion” therapy and said “many gay and lesbian adults” agree with her.
“Majority [trans youth] If we leave them to their own devices, they will grow up to be happy, healthy homosexuals like me,” Reed said. “We believe that these are protogay children who will grow up to be homosexuals just like us. We consider this to be gay conversion therapy at its worst.”
Lauren Leggieri, a lesbian and “lifelong Democrat,” testified that affirming transgender youth is a “gay rights issue.”
“Many children undergoing social and medical transitions would, without intervention, grow into gay and lesbian adults,” Leggieri said, linking sexual orientation to gender identity.
HB 693 remains in the Judiciary Committee and has not yet been scheduled for a third hearing. 🔥
Ignite the action
- To access The Buckeye Flame Ohio’s 2026 LGBTQ+ legislation guide, click here.
- To register to vote or check your eligibility to vote in Ohio, click here.
- To find the contact information for your Ohio State Representative, click here.
- To find contact information for an Ohio State Senator, click here.
- If you are a youthful LGBTQ+ person in crisis, please contact Trevor’s project: 866-4-U-Trevor.
- If you are a transgender adult in need of immediate support, please contact National Trans Lifeline: 877-565-8860
