House Bill 8, a controversial bill christened the parents’ bill of rights by its sponsors and a “forced outing” and “don’t say gay” bill by opponents, could pass the Ohio Senate as early as Wednesday.
Here’s what the bill would do:
- Prohibit instruction in grades K-3 that includes any description or depiction of sexual concepts or “gender ideology” with exceptions for teaching students about preventing venereal disease, child sexual abuse and sexual violence. The bill does not define gender ideology.
- Require school staff to inform parents if a student requests to “identify as a gender that does not align with the student’s biological sex.”
- Parents who submit written complaints must send them to the principal or assistant principal first. Parents can appeal any decision to the superintendent and then the school board. Parents could still express concerns about the school to school board members.
- Schools must notify parents about school-provided healthcare services and the option to withhold consent or decline any specified service each year.
