(C) Common Dreams This story was originally published by Common Dreams and is unaltered. . . . . . . . . . . Ohio lawmaker compares gender dysphoria in kids to thoughts of being a bird [1] [] Date: 2024-01-10 An Ohio Republican on Wednesday compared gender dysphoria in children to delusions about being a bird as lawmakers debated legislation that would ban transgender students from using restrooms aligned with their gender identity. The committee hearing came hours before the House was set to override Gov. Mike DeWine's veto of House Bill 68, which would restrict medical care for transgender minors and block transgender girls from female sports. The bathroom bill, House Bill 183, would require K-12 and college students to use bathrooms and locker rooms that match their sex assigned at birth. "If I had a child who thought he was a bird, am I going to take him to a doctor who tells him the best thing to do is to let him explore being a bird?" Rep. Beth Lear, R-Galena, said. "And oh, by the way, there's a five-story building next door − why don't you jump off and see if you can fly?" Lear was responding to a question from Rep. Casey Weinstein, D-Hudson, about whether she believes transgender people exist. She argued that there are only two genders. Gender dysphoria stems from a conflict between someone's gender identity and the sex they were assigned at birth. People can experience this at any age, according to Cleveland Clinic, including during their childhood. What is House Bill 183? Lear and Rep. Adam Bird, R-New Richmond, introduced House Bill 183 earlier this year and unveiled a new version of the proposal during Wednesday's hearing. One of the changes would prohibit public K-12 schools and universities from offering multi-use gender neutral facilities. The bill also prohibits schools from letting students share overnight accommodations with the opposite biological sex. The restrictions don't apply to small children being assisted by a family member, or to someone helping a person with a disability. Schools could still offer single-use restrooms. Backers of House Bill 183 say the measure is necessary to protect young Ohioans. A handful of other states have passed similar laws, and Kansas extended the rule to prisons, rape crisis centers and domestic violence shelters. LGBTQ+ advocates contend these policies make bathrooms and locker rooms less safe for transgender youth. A fight over the issue played out last year in Ohio federal court. Parents sued Bethel Local School District in Tipp City, contending the school board improperly allowed students to use bathrooms aligned with their gender identity. A judge dismissed the complaint and ruled the district's policy could stay in place. "It's eerily similar to the racist policies that were had in the south regarding special bathrooms, special water fountains, can't use the same restaurants, can't look a white woman in the eyes," Rep. Joe Miller, D-Amherst, said Wednesday. "This is just a different group of Americans, of Ohioans, of citizens." House Speaker Jason Stephens, R-Kitts Hill, did not say Tuesday if or when he'd bring House Bill 183 to the floor for a vote. The bill has not yet passed out of committee. Haley BeMiller is a reporter for the USA TODAY Network Ohio Bureau, which serves the Columbus Dispatch, Cincinnati Enquirer, Akron Beacon Journal and 18 other affiliated news organizations across Ohio. What do you want us to focus on for the 2024 election? We are always looking for ways to improve our work, and your feedback is key. Take our anonymous survey here and help us enhance our coverage. Get more political analysis by listening to the Ohio Politics Explained podcast [END] --- [1] Url: https://www.cincinnati.com/story/news/politics/2024/01/10/trans-bathroom-bill-ohio-lawmaker-dismisses-gender-dysphoria-in-kids/72174168007/ Published and (C) by Common Dreams Content appears here under this condition or license: Creative Commons CC BY-NC-ND 3.0.. via Magical.Fish Gopher News Feeds: gopher://magical.fish/1/feeds/news/commondreams/