The Democrats of the Ohio Senate introduced 423 amendments to the two -year OHIO budget (Sub. HB 96) adopted by Ohio House in April. Four of these corrections are aimed at removing the anti-LGBTQ+ “cultural war” language introduced into the budget by the Republicans of Ohio.
Democrats called these items “cruel to distract attention from the opposite Robin Hood policy at the Budget Center.”
“Unfortunately, the Republican majority presented to the inhabitants of Ohio one more opportunity in the budget to continue the cultural war,” said the leader of the democratic senate Nicke Antonio (D-shelawood) on a press conference on Tuesday.
The language of the Democrats want to eliminate, includes:
- A policy that, on the executive order of President Donald Trump, “to recognize two sexes, men and women.” According to the budget language, “these sexes are not variable and are based on basic and undeniable reality.”
- Prohibiting the employ of Medicaid to mental health services, which “promote or confirm sex transition.”
- Keeping state money from youth shelters that support transgender youth.
- The requirement of libraries to place material related to sexual orientation or sexual identity or expression from the view of people under 18 years of age.
Regarding the restriction of library books-the scope and application of the budget is not defined by the head of Paul Hicks-Hudson (D-Toledo) said that this “censorship” is a “unprepared mandate”.
“[We must] Remove censorship provisions added at home that ask our libraries more with less number, “said Senator Hicks-Hudson at the Tuesday press conference.
Additional anti-LGBTQ+ in the budget, but not moved by Democrats, includes:
- Ban on menstrual products from men’s toilets of public buildings.
- The manovs that state agencies can only fly with the official flag of Ohio in the area or buildings, effectively prohibiting the display of pride flags.
“Inadequate recipes”
Senator Antonio told Buckeye Flame that she fell into Senator Jerry Cirino, chairman of the Financial Committee in Ohio, in the Statehouse corridor. She said that she emphasized anti-LGBTQ+ items in the budget of 5,048 pages. Then she sent him notewhich Senator’s office Antonio handed over Buckeye Flame.
“As we discussed, there are several resolutions at home 96 that contain various” cultural war “; A type of language incapable of the operational budget, “wrote Senator Antonio in a note.
She emphasized that they were “seemingly ideological items” that were added to the budget of the house “at the last minute” and did not receive “appropriate verification”.
“I would respect with respect for the support of our corrections to remove those elements that were not included in the proposed governor’s budget,” wrote Senator Antonio.
Buckeye Flame contacted the office of Senator Cirino for a comment, and this song will be updated if you receive an answer.
Different parts of the budget are currently heard in the National Senate committees. Last week, the Senate Supervision and Reformation Committee rejected the testimonies presented by representatives Equality of ohio AND Transohio from being heard during the budget interrogations of this committee.
Senior Legislative Advisor Sen. Susan Manchester (R-Waynesfield), chairman of this committee, said that testimonies regarding the position of anti-LGBTQ+ did not apply to cases before the committee and therefore he cannot be accepted as public testimony. ”
The Chamber and the Senate must agree the language of the two -year budget and present it to the governor Mike Dewin for his signature by the end of June. Ding
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- 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.
- To find contact details for your Senator Ohio, Click here.
- If you are a juvenile LGBTQ+ in crisis, please contact Trevor project: 866-4-U-TREVOR.
- If you are an adult transgender in need of immediate aid, please contact National Trans Lifeline: 877-565-8860
