Transgender Athletes

One of the Republican-backed bills affects trans athletes participating in women's sports, and the other would ban hormone therapies or gender affirming treatments on Ohioans under 18 years old.

It's a tweaked version of a ban that failed to pass in the last General Assembly.

The Ohio bill still bans transgender athletes from participating in girls' sports and now said a student-athlete would need to provide a birth certificate if their sex is disputed.

The proposed resolution urges the state legislature to pass bills that prevent transgender students from using girls bathrooms and locker rooms, supports a lawsuit being waged by Ohio Attorney General Dave Yost over federal non-discrimination rules and more.

Senate President Matt Huffman (R-Lima) calls the House bill language that requires internal and external exams “unnecessary” and plans for that measure to be omitted in the Senate version.

Language in bill would require exam of student athletes’ “internal and external reproductive anatomy” if their sex is questioned.

Democratic lawmakers say the bill is attempting to address an issue that doesn't exist. The Ohio High School Athletic Association (OHSAA) said there are about 400,000 Ohio high schoolers participating in sports right now, and only one transgender athlete on a girls' sports team.

Members of the Ohio House of Representatives voted to attach an unrelated, controversial amendment to a bill that provided resources and mentorship opportunities for new teachers.

Gov. Mike DeWine on Friday indicated he wouldn’t sign any bill that bans transgender girls and women from competing in female sports. We discuss this and more on our Weekly Reporter Roundtable.

Ohio Republican Gov. Mike DeWine has questioned the need for a legislative ban on transgender girls competing in sports.