The Ohio Board of Education voted 10-7-1 to approve a proposal that would impact the protections of LGBTQIA+ students in schools.
COLUMBUS, Ohio — The Title IX proposal that was introduced this fall by Ohio Board of Education member Brendan Shea has officially passed by a vote of 10-7 on Tuesday.
This resolution would oppose the Title IX protections that were introduced by the Biden administration over the summer. Districts that defied those new regulations could be subject to limited funding, including money for school lunches.
Now, the state superintendent is to send out a copy of the resolution to every Ohio school district, elementary school and federally funded school within the next 21 days.
When the bill was introduced in September, sponsor Brendan Shea said the resolution for the board is standing up to “bullies” that are threatening to take lunch money from schools if they don’t comply.
“I’m not laying this at the feet of young people, who trans-identify,” Shea said during that meeting in September. “I’m laying this at the feet of big people, adults that are imposing these policies and regulations…and yes, contributing to the recruitment and grooming of a movement that’s sweeping our youth and nation by storm.”
The proposal Shea introduced was then amended by member Mike Toal.
At the board meeting Tuesday, amendments were introduced to the resolution, and board member Christina Collins said “this resolution as it as written from the state board of education, singles out one group of children, that I cannot support this resolution as it’s written.”
The board did vote to strike through the first three paragraphs of the proposal, which included:
“The concept of education rests on the understanding that there are objective facts and absolute truths. Biological sex – male and female – is one such objective, scientific fact.
“Sex is not arbitrarily assigned at birth but rather identifies observable, quantifiable differences between males and females. Merriam-Webster defines “sex” as “either of the two major forms of individuals that occur in many species and that are distinguished respectively as female or male especially on the basis of their reproductive organs and structures.
“Denying the reality of biological sex destroys foundational truths upon which education rests. To safeguard the wellbeing of children and to support parents, schools, and districts in doing the same, The State Board of Education (the “Board”) hereby adopts the following Resolution…”
The resolution is set to be finalized tomorrow according to an official from the State Board of Education. It reads:
“RESOLUTION TO OPPOSE THE PROPOSED CHANGES TO TITLE IX AND TO AFFIRM PARENTAL RIGHTS AND LOCAL CONTROL OF OHIO K-12 EDUCATION
WHEREAS, the Ohio State Board of Education’s sacred oath of office is to uphold and defend the Constitution of the United States and the Constitution of the State of Ohio; and
WHEREAS, Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972 was enacted into law based on the Declaration of Independence’s promise of equal rights to ensure that “No person in the United States shall, on the basis of sex, be excluded from participation in, be denied the benefits of, or be subjected to discrimination under any education program or activity receiving Federal financial…
Read More: Ohio Board of Education counters federal LGBTQ+ protections