Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine Signs Bill Restricting Transgender Students’ Use of Bathrooms

Ohio Governor Mike DeWine has signed Senate Bill 104, a legislation that restricts the use of bathrooms by transgender students in state schools and universities. The bill, signed on November 27, 2024, mandates that schools and universities designate bathrooms and other similar public facilities for exclusive same-sex use, based on students’ sex assigned at birth.

The measure, labeled the ‘Protect All Students Act,’ was passed by the Republican-led legislature on November 14, 2024. It requires public and private schools, colleges, and universities to separate bathrooms, locker rooms, and overnight accommodations based on the gender assigned at or near birth. The law does not include an enforcement mechanism but allows exemptions for school employees, emergency situations, and individuals assisting young children or those with disabilities. Single-use or family bathrooms can still be offered by schools.

The signing of this bill has been met with significant opposition from Democrats, teachers’ unions, and civil rights groups, who argue that it puts transgender students at risk and violates their right to privacy. The ACLU of Ohio has indicated it may sue to challenge the bill. In contrast, Republican lawmakers and supporters, such as State Senator Jerry Cirino and Aaron Baer of the Center for Christian Virtue, have defended the bill as a common-sense measure to protect girls and women in private spaces.

This move is part of a broader trend among Republican politicians to pass transgender restrictions. Ohio joins at least 11 other states that have adopted similar laws barring transgender girls and women from using girls’ and women’s bathrooms at public schools. The U.S. Supreme Court is set to hear arguments on December 4 regarding Tennessee‘s ban on gender-affirming care for transgender minors, a ruling that could impact policies in other states.

Governor DeWine’s decision to sign this bill comes after he previously vetoed a similar measure last year that barred doctors from providing gender-related treatment to minors and prohibited transgender girls and women from participating in girls’ and women’s sports. However, the legislature overrode his veto in January 2024.