HB 616, an Ohio bill introduced Monday afternoon duplicates Florida’s Don’t Say Gay law and states that no public school, community school or private school that accepts vouchers shall “teach, use, or provide any curriculum or instructional materials on sexual orientation or gender identity” in kindergarten through third grade. Older students could discuss these issues, but “any curriculum or instructional materials on sexual orientation or gender identity” would have to be “age-appropriate or developmentally appropriate for students in accordance with state standards.” 

Republican reps. Jean Schmidt, R-Loveland, and Mike Loychik, R-Cortland, sponsored HB 616 and introduced it to the Ohio senate.

Currently NO school in the United States uses any curriculum or instructional materials on sexual orientation or gender identity

The legislation would also ban other divisive concepts like the 1619 Project, critical race theory, intersectional theory, inherited racial guilt, diversity, equity, and inclusion learning outcomes and “any other concept that the state board of education defines as divisive or inherently racist.”

Democratic Rep. Brigid Kelly called that “a huge problem.”

“We’re not giving people access to the tools, the materials, the lessons they need to prepare children for the diverse world that exists,” Kelly said. 

The two largest lobbying groups for Ohio’s educators, the Ohio Education Association and the Ohio Federation of Teachers, oppose the legislation. 

Rep. Jean Schmidt, who introduced HB 616, just ran away from the press. @SpectrumNews1OH pic.twitter.com/Ewrljz3bzp

— Josh Rultenberg (@JoshRultNews) April 5, 2022