During public testimony before members of the Ohio House Health Committee, sexual violence experts and advocates warned lawmakers that Republican-sponsored legislation would harm LGBTQ+ youth and endanger some of the state’s most vulnerable youthful people — including sex trafficking survivors and the 16,000 children currently in foster care statewide.
Introduced by conservative Christian megachurch pastor Rep. Jonathan Newman (R-Troy) in May, Ohio House Bill (HB) 172 is part of a larger effort by House Republicans to strengthen “parents’ rights” and limit health care for transgender youth.
The act would eliminate the so-called Ohio’s Mobile Response and Stabilization Services (MRSS) program.which currently allows mental health professionals to provide short-lived outpatient mental health services to minors 14 years of age and older without obtaining consent from a parent or guardian.
The program is designed to serve youth in crisis and allows for a maximum of six sessions or 30 days of confidential mental health care, whichever comes first. Once the short-lived treatment window has expired, mental health professionals must obtain consent from the minor’s parent or legal guardian to continue treatment.
Republicans designed the program as a way for youthful LGBTQ+ people to discuss their gender identity or sexual orientation with a mental health professional without disclosing the information to their parents.
But sexual violence experts told lawmakers the bill would discourage youthful people of all backgrounds from seeking professional aid and eliminate an effective path to safety — especially for LGBTQ+ youth, who face much higher rates of violence sexual abuse and child molestation than their cisgender peers.
Over 40% of LGBTQ+ youth reported having experienced sexual violence before the age of 18 or over 24% report “frequent physical or emotional abuse at home” as a direct result of their LGBTQ+ identity.
Disclosing abuses
The Ohio Alliance to End Sexual Violence (OAESV) provides standardized training and technical assistance to 36 Rape Crisis Centers (RCCs) across the state – offering free resources and services to survivors of sexual violence, including access to “counseling, trauma therapy, victim advocacy and crisis response.”
During the bill’s third hearing on Nov. 19, OAESV Public Policy Director Emily Gemar told members of the HB 172 Health Committee that it would be more complex for youthful people who have experienced sexual assault to disclose the abuse.
“Most cases of child sexual abuse are committed by someone the child knows – often a parent, guardian or other family member,” Gemar said. “When the abuser is a parent or has influence in the home, requiring a parent’s consent to counseling effectively deprives a child of access to safety, disclosure, and intervention.”
“Confidential counseling is often the first and only form in which a child can safely disclose abuse to a trained professional,” Gemar said, noting that current law strikes a “careful balance” between confidentiality and parental involvement.
“It protects children’s parental rights and safety by allowing children access to limited therapeutic services,” she added. “This bill will close that path to children who need it most.”
Foster care and sex trafficking
Statewide approx 35% With There are currently 16,000 youthful people in foster care report that he or she has experienced violence and neglect while in state care.
Gemar told committee members that youth in foster care often lack protected and consistent adults in their lives and have difficulty accessing mighty support systems, making them especially vulnerable to violence and sexual abuse.
This is also reported by the US Department of State 60% of all youthful people who have experienced sex trafficking are trafficked by their parents, guardians or guardians.
“Research shows that confidentiality is often the only circumstance in which trafficked minors feel safe disclosing violence or engaging in care,” Gemar said. “Requiring parental consent would deny access to treatment for trafficked minors, further exacerbating trauma and preventing recovery and safety.”
Lisa DeGeeter – senior director of prevention and policy at the company Ohio Domestic Violence Network (ODVN) – told lawmakers that short-lived confidential treatment under the MRSS program is only used as a last resort.
“It is for children who have no other option, children whose only path to safety and healing are through the institutions that exist to help them, such as domestic violence, sexual violence and child abuse programs,” DeGeeter said.
When youthful people contact the MRSS program, mental health and crisis intervention specialists are required to respond within 60 minutes, most often in person. DeGeeter said the initial response is just beginning.
“Disclosure is not an event, it is a process,” said Rep. King. “There’s a whole sequence that happens in these cases. It takes time [for officials] get enough information to take action.”
Transgender youth
CEO of the company Ohio Psychological Association (OPA) Dustin McKee addressed transgender youth before committee members, reminding lawmakers that state law already requires mental health providers to report significant changes in gender identity or sexual orientation to parents or guardians of minors.
Regardless of suspected LGBTQ+ abuse in the home, Ohio law requires mental health professionals to introduce LGBTQ+ minors to their parents or legal guardians before providing mental health care services.
“The General Assembly has already addressed these concerns,” McKee said regarding transgender youth. “Deleting the entire Act from the Code will only further weaken the protections that exist in current law to help young people experiencing abuse, neglect, suicide and other significant risks to their health and well-being.”
Cost of delay
Overall, McKee said eliminating the MRSS program could result in an increased risk of suicide among teens across the state.
“Passing HB 172 would result in a parent being unaware of their child’s suffering and/or the serious risk of suicide their child faces because the child never sought help in the first place,” McKee said.
“Without this right, a teenager will not have a bridge of support in the sometimes longer time it may take to substantiate a report or allegation of abuse,” he added. “Psychologists will tell you firsthand that as early access to help becomes more difficult for Ohio youth, crisis situations will become more common for our loved ones in this age group.”
In total, at least 21 organizations have made public statements opposing HB 172, including:
Bill’s co-sponsor charged with sexual assault of a minor
The bill’s co-sponsors include publicly sanctioned Republican Rodney Creech (West Alexandra), who was removed from committee duties in April and were told to resign after a minor family member accused him of sexual assault.
Creech has since publicly denied allegations that he got into bed with the teenager while partially clothed and erect, calling them “political” in nature.
His name is still on the bill. 🔥
Ignite the action
- To find your nearest Rape Crisis Center, click here.
- If you have experienced violence or sexual harassment, call us Buckeye Region Anti-Violence Association (BRAVO) call (866) 862-7286, text (614) 333-1907. To chat live, BRAVO-Ohio.org.
- If you are experiencing sexual violence or harassment, call RAINN’s toll-free, confidential hotline at (800) 656-HOPE and text HOPE to 64674. To chat live, 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 crisis, please contact: National Trans Lifeline: 877-565-8860
- To learn more about the signs of child sexual abuse and molestation, click here.
