Ohio Republican Governor defends trans candidates who are being disqualified
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Ohio’s Republican Governor Mike DeWine has come to the defense of transgender political candidates who have been disqualified from running for state office due to a little-known law requiring them to list their former name if it has been changed within the past five years. The law does not apply to candidates who have changed their name due to marriage, but it does apply to transgender candidates who have changed their name as part of their transition.
This rule came as a surprise to Vanessa Joy, one of four first-time transgender candidates running for a seat in Ohio’s House of Representatives. Joy stated that she would have been willing to include her deadname in her campaign paperwork had she known about the rule. However, the 33-page candidate guide provided by the Ohio secretary of state’s office did not mention this requirement.
In a recent meeting with the editorial board of The Plain Dealer/cleveland.com, Governor DeWine acknowledged the need for changes to ensure that transgender legislative candidates are not disqualified solely because they failed to list their deadnames. He further emphasized this point in an email to HuffPost from his press secretary, stating that while the law should not be changed, it should also not disqualify candidates who were unaware of it.
The disqualification of transgender candidates has left Joy and others in the same position feeling disappointed and frustrated. Joy expressed concern that this requirement acts as a barrier for many transgender and gender-nonconforming individuals. While she personally would have been willing to have her deadname on the petitions and possibly on the ballot, she understands that many trans people do not want their deadnames printed due to safety concerns.
Joy and her fellow transgender candidates had hoped to win seats in the Republican state’s house in order to protect other transgender Ohioans. This motivation stems from the introduction of several anti-transgender and anti-drag bills by Republican lawmakers. For example, in July 2023, Republican Representatives proposed legislation that aimed to ban drag queens from library story hours and other children’s events. Later in the year, House Bill 68 was introduced, which sought to prohibit healthcare for transgender youth and restrict transgender students from participating in sports aligning with their gender identity.
Governor DeWine vetoed the discriminatory House Bill 68, arguing that decisions regarding trans healthcare for minors should be made by the parents rather than the government. However, Republican Representatives voted to override his veto and push the ban through to the Senate.
It is decisions like these that inspire candidates like Joy to run for office in Ohio’s House of Representatives. She aims to encourage millennials, Gen X, and Gen Z to vote and pursue political careers. By seeing a trans girl from a predominantly conservative state running for public office, young individuals may gain the courage to vote and recognize the potential impact their votes can have.
The other transgender candidates running for state legislature in Ohio are Bobbie Arnold, Arienne Chidrey, and Ari Faber. If any of these first-time candidates are elected, they will become the first openly transgender lawmakers in the Republican state.
In conclusion, Governor DeWine’s defense of transgender candidates who have been disqualified from running for state office due to a little-known law has brought attention to the barriers faced by transgender individuals in Ohio’s political landscape. The introduction of discriminatory bills targeting the transgender community further highlights the need for inclusive representation in government. With the support of Governor DeWine and other allies, transgender candidates hope to break down these barriers and advocate for the rights and safety of all Ohioans.
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Ohio Republican Governor, trans candidates, defends, disqualified
