The Ohio House of Representatives recently approved legislation mandating parental notification regarding sexuality education and gender identity discussions in public schools. The bill, which now moves to the Senate, requires schools to establish policies for informing parents about any "sexuality content," encompassing instruction, presentations, images, or descriptions of sexual concepts and gender ideology. Exceptions include lessons on sexually transmitted diseases, child sexual abuse prevention, and sexual violence prevention.

Furthermore, schools must notify parents of changes to a student's health and well-being, including requests to identify with a gender different from their biological sex. This provision has sparked significant debate, with LGBTQ+ advocates, civil rights groups, and school counselors expressing concerns about the potential marginalization of LGBTQ+ students.

Supporters of the bill argue it reinforces parental rights and ensures they are informed about sensitive topics being taught to their children. Opponents, however, contend that the legislation is unnecessary, given existing parental rights, and could create a hostile environment for LGBTQ+ students. They also raised concerns about the process, claiming insufficient time for public input after significant changes were made shortly before the initial vote.

The bill's sponsor, Republican Representative Sara Carruthers, stated that the legislation is not intended to be controversial and aims to foster collaboration between schools, teachers, and parents. She emphasized that it does not specifically target LGBTQ+ children.