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The Ohio Senate passed legislation Wednesday prohibiting transgender students from using bathrooms aligned with their gender identity, sending the bill to Republican Governor Mike DeWine for consideration.

The Republican-sponsored legislation encompasses both K-12 public schools and higher education institutions. It mandates schools to establish separate facilities – including bathrooms, locker rooms, and overnight accommodations – exclusively for males or females, determined by birth-assigned gender, in school buildings and during school events.

The bill includes exemptions for school staff, emergency situations, and individuals assisting young children or those with disabilities. Schools retain the option to provide family and single-occupancy bathrooms.

“This is about safety and security,” stated Republican State Sen. Jerry Cirino of Kirtland.

“If allowed to go into effect, SB 104 will create unsafe environments for trans and gender non-conforming individuals of all ages,” Jocelyn Rosnick, the ACLU of Ohio’s policy director, said in a statement. “This bill ignores the material reality that transgender people endure higher rates of sexual violence and assaults, particularly while using public restrooms, than people who are not transgender.”

“Today is a huge victory for children and families in Ohio,” CCV Policy Director David Mahan said in a statement. “Amended SB104 is common-sense legislation that will guarantee the only people entering young ladies’ private spaces are female, not men claiming to be female.”

Currently, eleven states maintain similar bathroom restrictions for transgender individuals in public schools. These laws are active in Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, North Dakota, Oklahoma, Tennessee, and Utah, while Idaho’s enforcement remains suspended by judicial order.

The measure was attached to a college credit program bill by House Republicans in June, prompting Democratic Senator Catherine Ingram of Cincinnati to withdraw her co-sponsorship.

Senate Democratic Leader Nickie Antonio criticized Republican leadership for prioritizing this legislation immediately following the November election, stating, “There should be no exception to liberty and justice for all, yet here we are telling our children that there are people who are less-than. This bill is not about bathrooms. It’s about demonizing those who are different, and our children are watching and listening to the fearmongering.”