Florida signed into law its so-called “Don’t Say Gay” bill last month. Now, more than a dozen states—including Ohio—have followed suit by introducing legislation that would prohibit or censor discussion of sexual orientation and gender identity in schools from kindergarten through Grade 12.
Across the U.S., a record number of anti-LGBTQ bills have been introduced in 2022. State governments have taken aim at transgender and nonbinary youth in particular, attempting to (and in some cases succeeding at) blocking access to life-saving gender-affirming care and denying trans girls the opportunity to participate in youth sports.
Alabama was the most recent state to enact such legislation, passing two laws earlier this month. The first makes it illegal to provide puberty blockers or gender-affirming hormone therapy to trans youth, forcing doctors to choose between violating the ethics and standards of care of their profession or being charged with a felony. The other prohibits instruction or discussion about sexual orientation and gender identity in public schools for children in kindergarten through fifth grade and forces trans youth to use bathrooms and locker rooms based upon the sex they were designated at birth rather than their gender identity.
With more than 84% of transgender students and more than half of nonbinary students already reporting feeling unsafe at school because of their gender, further entrenching discriminatory practices into the school environment continues to put trans and nonbinary youth in danger.
As Faculty Affiliates of Miami University’s Sexuality Education Studies Center (SESC) and related partners, we align ourselves with our professional organizations (e.g., National Council on Family Relations, National Association of Social Workers, American Psychological Association and the Society for the Scientific Study of Sexuality) and other major professional groups (e.g., American Medical Association; American Academy of Pediatrics) in condemning these political attacks on the health and well-being of LGBTQ youth and those who care for them.
We are concerned about not only the obvious negative impact of the laws that are passed, but also the potential negative impact of having such public and political debate about LGBTQ youth—an already vulnerable group. We also know that LGBTQ students at Miami are very much aware of these legislative attacks on their community.
LGBTQ+ Miami students: We want you to know that we see you, we’re here for you and we’ll do all that we can to educate others about the destructiveness of these laws.
Earlier this month, Ohio legislators introduced HB 616, which would disallow curriculum or instruction pertaining to “diversity, equity and inclusion” (including Critical Race Theory and Intersectional Theory), and — like Florida’s “Don’t Say Gay” law — would prohibit or censor curriculum or instruction about sexual orientation and gender identity, from kindergarten through high school.
Earlier this year, HB 454, a specifically anti-trans bill, had its first committee hearing. This legislation would prohibit doctors from providing gender-affirming medical care to youth. It would also force teachers, counselors and other school personnel to break the trust of their students, compelling these professionals to tell parents if a student reveals that they are or may be trans or nonbinary — even if sharing such information with a parent could be dangerous for the student.
Society’s rejection, continued discrimination and aggressive action against the LGBTQ community significantly contributes to high rates of depression, anxiety and suicidal thoughts and behaviors among LGBTQ youth. Fortunately, we know what is needed to combat these negative outcomes for this group—research has shown the critical importance of familial and community support and acceptance.
For the health and well-being of LGBTQ youth, we implore legislators in Ohio, across the country and around the world to stop these legislative attacks. Rather than terrorizing an already marginalized group for political gain, those in positions of power should be using their influence to tackle real community problems, such as poverty, addiction, racism, intimate partner violence, hunger and homelessness.
We hope that you will join us in moving toward the vision of the SESC to create a welcoming, affirming, inquisitive and collaborative environment for LQBTQIA+ community members and for those whose scholarship and practice focus on gender and sexuality. Be on the lookout for SESC activities and research opportunities, or contact us directly with your ideas at sesc@miamioh.edu.
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We also support student-led efforts to support our queer and trans community such as the Silent Protest for LGBT Kids, Against Ohio HB 616 (Don’t Say Gay). For those interested in showing support with their physical presence, the protest is happening on Friday, April 22nd from noon to 6 p.m. in front of Armstrong Student Center.
The above statement is shared on behalf of the following individuals as Faculty Affiliates of the Dennis L. Carlson Sexuality Education Studies Center (SESC), the SESC’s related partners, and concerned faculty and staff at Miami University. The views shared in this statement are those of the listed individuals and do not reflect the views of their departments or Miami University.
Name, Discipline:
Megan Kuykendoll, Sexuality Education Studies Center, Family Science and Social Work
Kate Kuvalanka, Family Science and Social Work
G. Allen Ratliff, Family Science and Social Work
Sean Newsome, Family Science and Social Work
Liz Wilson, Comparative Religion
Jennifer Blue, Physics
Elise Radina, Family Science and Social Work
Colleen Floyd, Sexuality Education Studies Center, Student Affairs in Higher Education
Monica C. Schneider, Political Science
Darren Cosgrove, Family Science and Social Work
Leland G. Spencer, Interdisciplinary and Communication Studies
Elisa S. Abes, Student Affairs in Higher Education
Sean Monroe, Psychology
Kimberly Hamlin, History
Kenna Neitch, Global and Intercultural Studies
Callie Maddox, Sport Leadership and Management
Elizabeth Kerr, Libraries
Krista McDonald, Regional Libraries
John Burke, Regional Libraries
Jana Braziel, Global and Intercultural Studies
Jamie Viars, Regional Student Services
Mark Shores, Regional Libraries
Samantha Young, Regional Libraries
Crystal Walker, Regional Admission
Alan S. Kelley, Regional Libraries
Jacqueline Daugherty, Western Center for Social Impact and Innovation
Devon Cox, Regional Admission
Leslie Haxby McNeill, Student Wellness
Morgan-Allison Moore, Student Life
Cecilie D. McGhehey, Student Wellness
Madelyn Detloff, English and Global and intercultural Studies
Gaile Pohlhaus, Jr., Philosophy and WGS
Rodney D. Coates, Critical Race and Ethnic Studies & Global and Intercultural Studies
Mary Jean Corbett, English
Stephanie Beck, Regional Academic Advising
Jacqueline Rioja Velarde, Global Initiatives.
Mark Allen Peterson, Anthropology
Keisha Norris, College of Engineering and Computing
Amy Yousefi, College of Engineering and Computing
Maddy LaTurner, English
Emma Boddy, English
Gabriele Bechtel, English
Casey Kuhajda, English
Kelsey Timmerman, English
Emily Lange, Philosophy
Adam Strantz, ETBD and English
Whitney Womack Smith, Languages, Literatures, and Writing
Jennifer Cohen, Global and Intercultural Studies
Danielle Hart, Career Services
Andrew Hebard, English
James E. Porter, English and Emerging Technology in Business & Design
Theresa Evans, English
Jason Palmeri, English
Margaret Luongo, English
Peter W. Rose, French, Italian and Classical Studies
Noah W. Montague, Residence Life
Ann Elizabeth Armstrong, Theatre
Annastashia Blesi, Miller Center for Student Disability Services
Lisa McLaughlin, Media, Journalism and Film & Global and Intercultural Studies
Natalee Blackford, Residence Life
William J. Gracie, Jr. Emeritus in English and Dean
Wyatt J Bischoff, College of Engineering and Computing
Brian Kirkmeyer, College of Engineering and Computing
Damon Scott, Geography & Global and Intercultural Studies
Jamie Kuhlmeier, Center for Student Diversity and Inclusion, Student Affairs in Higher Education
Lucy Trevino Alanis, Center for Student Diversity and Inclusion, Student Wellness, Student Affairs in Higher Education
Abigail Denton, English
Megan Schoettler, English
Molly Moran, Emerging Technology in Business and Design
Cory Duchesneau, Farmer School of Business
Andrea Righi, French, Italian, and Classical Studies
Pascal Massie, Philosophy
Anna Weisling, Emerging Technology in Business and Design
Elizabeth Music, Philosophy
Sarah Grace McCollough, Rinella Learning Center, Student Affairs in Higher Education
Sherrill L. Sellers, Family Science & Social Work
Cathy R. Moore, Teacher Education
Jo Line, Sport Leadership and Management
Heidi McKee, English
J Ravancho, Rinella Learning Center, Student Affairs in Higher Education
Amy Bielicki, Residence Life
Zachary Mroz, Residence Life, Student Affairs in Higher Education
Tamise Ironstrack, Spanish and Portuguese
Lauren Toben, Psychology
Rebecca Buadry Young, Student Wellness
Christina Grote, Regional Student Activities & Orientation
Sheila Croucher, Global and Intercultural Studies
Mecca Abdul-Aziz, Residence Life, Student Affairs in Higher Education
Carol Olausen, American Culture & English
Kourtney Spaulding, Armstrong Student Center, Division of Student Life
Rhonda Jackson, 1809 LGBTQ+ Alumni Association Board Member
Leslie Omaits, Regional Student Disability Services
Mike Savnik, 1809 LGBTQ+ Alumni Board
John Tassoni, English/Languages, Literatures, & Writing
Jim Coyle, Emerging Technology in Business and Design, and Marketing
Erin Goff-Mitchell, English
Tony Cimasko, English
Golden Fanning, Rinella Learning Center
Rachel Hellgren, Emerging Technology in Business and Design
Heather Morrow, Rinella Learning Center
Jerry Yarnetsky, University Libraries and Emerging Technology in Business and Design
cris cheek, English
Kara Anand-Gall, English / Miami Online Regionals
Ghada Mahdi, Rinella Learning Center
Roxanne T. Ornelas, Geography
Nikki Ferrell, University Communications and Marketing
Jessica L. McCarty-Kern, Geography
Robyn R. Brown, Miami Regionals E-Campus/Miami Online Regionals
Kevin Reuning, Political Science
Justin J. Fain, Geography
Ahjah Marie Johnson, Educational Leadership
Robbyn Abbitt, Geography
Mary C. Henry, Geography
James M. Bromley, English
J. Andrew Zeisler, 1809 LGBTQ+ Alumni Board Member
Erica Crawford, Miami Regionals E-Campus/Miami Online Regionals
Ellen J. Yezierski, Chemistry & Biochemistry, Center for Teaching Excellence
John M. Krafft, English
Katherine S. Cho, Educational Leadership
Lauren Brassfield, Armstrong Student Center
Durell Callier, Educational Leadership
Lisa Weems, Educational Leadership & Global and Intercultural Studies
Meghan Phadke, Teacher Education
Robert W Black, IT Services
Shavon Anderson, University Communications and Marketing
Molly Heidemann, International Student and Scholar Services
Don Moeller, College of Arts and Science IT
Maressa L. Dixon, Discovery Center for Evaluation, Research, & Professional Learning
Michael Turner, Center for Career Exploration and Success
Cheryl D Young, Global Initiatives
Elise Clerkin, Psychology
Ryan Dye, Education Abroad
Michael P. Evans, Educational Leadership, Teacher Education, Family Science & Social Work
Maija Sipola, Geology & Environmental Earth Science
Daniel E. Meyers, Interactive Language Resource Center
Mathew Perry, Residence Life
Kurt Olausen, College of Arts & Science Academic Advising
Jeffrey Hunger, Department of Psychology
Vrinda Kalia, Psychology
Karthik Vishwanath, Physics
Timothy G. DeMarks, Emerging Technology in Business & Design
Brooke Spangler Cropenbaker, Department of Psychology
Michael Bailey-Van Kuren, Emerging Technology in Business & Design
Todd Dupont, Geology and Environmental Earth Science
Emily Cluen, Residence Life
Brandon T. Humphrey, Department of Psychology
Kendall L. Hauer, Geology and Environmental Earth Science
Elizabeth J. Kiel, Psychology
Jason Rech, Geology and Environmental Earth Science
Elisabeth Widom, Geology and Environmental Earth Science
Carter Roane, Residence Life
Tina Coyne, Center for Student Diversity and Inclusion
April Callis, Center for Student Diversity and Inclusion
Cricket Meehan, Center for School-Based Mental Health Programs, Psychology
Dalanie Beach, English Department, Creative Writing
Aaron Luebbe, Psychology
Cathy Wagner, English
Anne Whitesell, Political Science
Pete Ferris, Information Technology Services
Theresa Kulbaga, English / Languages, Literatures, and Writing
Michael Hicks, Philosophy
Gabby Spencer, Residence Life, College of Arts and Science Dean’s Office
Veronica R Barrios, Family Science and Social Work
Russell Simonsen, Spanish and Portuguese
Thomas Morgan, Languages, Literatures, and Writing
Alyssa Westberry, Student Affairs in Higher Education & The Rinella Learning Center
Jessica Rea, University Communications and Marketing
Matthew Siegel, Teacher Education
Robin Schell, Teacher Education
Lisa Portwood, Teacher Education
Catherine Haerr, Teacher Education
J Rizzo, University Communications and Marketing
T. Mackenzie Bryant, University Communications and Marketing
Mattea Carveiro, Residence Life, Student Affairs and Higher Education
Sujay Sabnis, Educational Psychology
Andrew Richard, Regional Student Activities and Orientation
Kenyetta Lomax Lee, Family Science and Social Work
Leslie Wood, Rinella Learning Center
Helaine Alessio, Kinesiology, Nutrition, and Health
Tara Chapin, Family Science and Social Work
Aidan M. McKeon, Student Body Vice President, Miami University
Madelyn Jett, Student Body President, Miami University
Kevin Carr, Rinella Learning Center
Travis Poling, English
Claire Ruberg, Regional Student and Academic Success
Dasha Wood, Center for Student Diversity and Inclusion
Katie Kromer, Residence Life
Darryl B. Rice, Business
Destiny Brugman, English and Women and Gender Studies
Leah Wasburn-Moses, Educational Psychology
Jenna Kamrass Morvay, Teacher Education
Rebecca Howard, Teacher Education
Irene Lang Kleiman, Teacher Education
Paula Gândara, Spanish and Portuguese
Peter Wessels, Psychology
Glenn Platt, Emerging Technology in Business & Design/Marketing
Hannah Brown, Family Science & Social Work
Sheri Leafgren, Teacher Education
Paul Schaeffer, Biology
Eric Sheffield, Music & Emerging Technology in Business and Design
Caryn E. Neumann, Interdisciplinary and Communication Studies
Libby Grant, Residence Life, Student Affairs in Higher Education
Kenzie Andrews, Teacher Education
Joel Malin, Educational Leadership
Brian Currie, Geology and Environmental Earth Science
Nazan Bautista, Teacher Education
Sam Reenan, Music
Joshua Magee, Psychology
Riley Acton, Economics
Richelle Frabotta, Dennis L. Carlson Sexuality Education Studies Center (Founder), Family Science and Social Work (former faculty)
Juan Camilo Galeano Sánchez, Spanish and Portuguese
Eva E. Howard, Teacher Education
Shelly Jarrett Bromberg, Spanish and Portuguese
Amy Shaiman, 1809 LGBTQ+ Alumni Board of Miami University
Zachary Campbell, Spanish and Portuguese
Raúl Ianes, Spanish and Portuguese
Jacqlyn Schott, Rinella Learning Center
Hannah Chauvin, Management
Amber D. Franklin, Speech Pathology and Audiology
Kyrstin Mallon Andrews, Anthropology
Brian D. Schultz, Teacher Education
Ruchelle Dunwoody, Recreational Sports
James C. Hanges, Comparative Religion
David Motta, Spanish and Portuguese
Cathy Heinz, University Communications and Marketing
Robin D. Cooper, Teacher Education
Katherine E. Batchelor, Teacher Education
Katherine Fowler-Córdova, Spanish and Portuguese
Marion Lytle, Geology and Environmental Earth Science
Amy Beissel, University Advancement
Zackary Hill, Western Program
Julia Pond, Regionals Academic Advising
Nichole Carr, Family Science and Social Work
Mathew Hall, 1809 LGBTQ+ Board Alumni Board of Miami University
Bryan Duarte, Educational Leadership
Shannon Pinegar, Psychology
Amy R. Roberts, Family Science and Social Work
Brittany Aronson, Educational Leadership
Ganiva Reyes, Teacher Education
Nela Ahmed, University Libraries
Kyle Standifer, Philosophy
Julie Szucs, Spanish and Portuguese
Karla Guinigundo, Global Initiatives
Hope Sweeney, Miller Center for Student Disability Services
Sharon Custer, Family Science and Social Work
Todd Edwards, Teacher Education
Laura Desmond, Global Initiatives
Martha Sapiro, Global & Intercultural Studies
Vicka Bell-Robinson, Residence Life
Bruce D’Arcus, Geography
David Prytherch, Geography
Bartosz Grudzinski, Geography
Hillel Gray, Comparative Religion and University Studies
Aacha Gregg, The Urban Cohort, Student Affairs in Higher Education
Marcia England, Geography
Cara M. Calabrese, MU Libraries
Susan Jakubowski, Geography