Listening Campaign Overview

The Belonging for Every Student Listening Campaign is a statewide effort to better understand how recent anti-LGBTQ+ laws are shaping the experiences of students, educators, and families across Ohio.

Over the past few years, laws like House Bill 8 have required all 611 school districts in Ohio to adopt new policies. While these policies are public record, what remains unclear is how they are being put into practice and how they are impacting real people in school communities.

This summer, we are listening. We want to know: How are districts implementing these policies? Are schools going beyond what the law requires? How are LGBTQ+ students and families being affected? What changes are educators experiencing in their classrooms, materials, and ability to support students?

By gathering stories, insights, and data from across the state, this campaign will help build a clearer picture of what’s happening on the ground. These findings will directly inform advocacy strategies for the 2026–2027 school year, ensuring that efforts to support safe, inclusive, and equitable schools are rooted in the lived experiences of Ohio communities.

This campaign is in partnership with: