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Ohio Legislature sends 'bathroom bill' to governor's desk; transgender activist responds

The Ohio Senate on Wednesday approved a ban on transgender students using bathrooms that fit their gender identities and sent it to Republican Gov. Mike DeWine.

TOLEDO, Ohio — The Ohio Legislature on Wednesday passed House Bill 183, a measure that would require transgender students at schools to use bathrooms and locker rooms that align with their sex assigned at birth.

The bill was approved by a 24-7 vote on Wednesday and will now head to Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine's desk.

It passed as part of Senate Bill 104, which targeted the College Credit Plus program.

Supporters of the bill argue it's necessary to protect children in vulnerable spaces.

"These are people’s lives and we are making them less safe," state Sen. Catherine Ingram (D-Cincinnati) said before Wednesday's vote.

"It revolves around the safety, security, and I think common sense," Sen. Jerry Cirino (R-Kirtland) said on the Senate floor. "It protects our children and grandchildren in private spaces where they are most vulnerable."

However, opponents of the bill argue that it will have negative consequences for transgender youth.

Nikki Orlowski, a board member of Equality Toledo Community Action and a transgender advocate, believes the legislation will cause harm.

“It puts our most vulnerable population at the crosshairs of harm,” Orlowski said.

Orlowski also works at the University of Toledo and expressed concerns about how the bill will impact not only K-12 schools but also higher education institutions.

“It means I have to use the men's restroom and that puts my life in danger just like it puts these children's lives in danger," she said.

Orlowski urged transgender individuals to lean on one another for support.

“Find your group you feel safe with," she said. "Find your clique. Just find your community."

A staffer at DeWine's office told WTOL 11 the governor would be inclined to sign a bill banning transgender students from using bathrooms that align with their gender identity, but it depends on how it's written.

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