1. United States
2. Ohio
3. Letter

Policies that deny transgender youth the right to have their identities affirmed put them at severe risk of depression, anxiety, substance abuse, and alarmingly high rates of suicide. HB 190, the "Given Name Act," is an egregious violation of the rights and dignity of transgender students in Ohio's public schools that would only exacerbate these already unacceptable outcomes. This legislation would forcibly "out" transgender youth to their families, regardless of personal safety considerations, and prohibits them from being addressed by their true names and pronouns at school. Denying someone's identity in this way is psychologically damaging and perpetuates stigma. Additionally, threatening to withhold 10% of funding from non-compliant schools is an unacceptable form of financial coercion. Transgender students deserve to have their identities affirmed and respected in the classroom, not legislated against. This discriminatory bill compromises the wellbeing of vulnerable youth and has no place in Ohio's education system. I urge you to vehemently oppose HB 190 and uphold the principle that all students should feel safe, supported, and free to be themselves at school without government overreach into deeply personal matters. Protecting transgender kids is not up for negotiation.