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HONESTY FOR OHIO EDUCATION
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TAKE ACTION NOW 
​
STOP House Bill 616


​
​What is House Bill 616?


House Bill 616 is the third censorship bill imported into Ohio that prohibits and restricts how race, racism, sexual orientation, and gender identity are acknowledged, taught, and discussed in Ohio K-12 schools. 

Ohio Reps. 
Mike Loychik (R-Bazetta) and Jean Schmidt (R-Loveland) introduced HB 616 on April 4, 2022, and it was assigned to the House State and Local Government Committee, now joining HB 322 and 327. 

Not only does HB 616 double down on the harmful tenets of 
HB 322 and HB 327 weaponizing race and identity and threatening educators with draconian penalties, it also cosigns the homophobic language in Florida's "Don't Say Gay" bill.  

HB 616, HB 327, and HB 322 are an affront to students, families, and educators across Ohio.
This shameful display of political posturing and wanton disregard for student welfare and honest education are a
​stain on the Ohio Statehouse.


There is no place for racist, homophobic, transphobic educational gag orders in Ohio!
​
​
TAKE ACTION TO STOP HOUSE BILL 616


CONTACT OHIO LEGISLATORS
Tell State and Local Government Committee members to denounce House Bill 616 and
not support harmful legislation that weaponizes race, gender, and sexuality in the classroom. 
Contact State and Local ​government Committee
WRITE TO LOCAL MEDIA
Submit a Letter to the Editor or Op-Ed to your local newspaper ​demanding legislators stop HB 616.
submit a letter to the editor
​​About ​House Bill 616
Targets Ohio K-12 Schools
  • School districts
  • STEM schools
  • Community schools
  • Nonpublic schools accepting state scholarships
​
Censors Race & Racism
HB 616 prohibits the promotion and endorsement of "divisive or inherently racist concepts" including:
  • Critical Race Theory
  • The 1619 Project
  • Intersectional Theory
  • Diversity Equity, and Inclusion learning outcomes
  • Inherited racial guilt
  • Other concepts defined by the State Board of Education

Censors Sexual Orientation & Gender Identity
HB 616 imports the language of  Florida's Don't Say Gay bill that prohibits the education and discussion about sexual orientation and gender identity in schools.
  • Prohibits the teaching and use of instructional material about sexual orientation or gender identity for grades K-3
  • Restricts the teaching and use of instructional material about sexual orientation or gender identity for grades 4-12; states the material must be "age-appropriate or developmentally appropriate", does not define "appropriate"

Issues Extreme Penalties Against Educators & Schools
HB 616 levies extreme licensure and funding penalties for violations of the bill.
  • ​Complaints filed against teachers, administrators, or superintendents will be heard by the State Board of Education.
  • If the state superintendent rules against a teacher, administrator, district superintendent, or district, the Dept. of Education will: ​
    • Admonish, suspend, or revoke the teacher, administrator, or district superintendent's license
    • Withhold ​funds based on severity of the offense 
Learn more about hb 616
read HB 616 AS-WRITTEN
protect lgbtq+ rights with equality ohio
HB 616 IN THE NEWS
​

  • April 18, He teaches critical race theory. He has problems with GOP efforts to ban it, Ohio Capital Journal
  • ​April 17, Senate candidate Morgan Harper calls Hilliard schools’ police report 'waste of resources', Dispatch
  • April 16, Ohio Republicans only care about 'free speech' they agree with, Dispatch
  • April 15, Parents, officials, advocates react to House Bill 616, Spectrum News
  • April 15, Columbus City Schools, school librarians speak out against HB 616, Columbus Dispatch
  • April 15, Akron City Council passes resolution condemning Ohio's "Don't Say Gay" bill, ideastream
  • April 13, HB 616 is a disaster for everyone, Athens News
  • April 13, HB 616, so-called "Don't Say Gay" bill, attempts to muzzle teachers, Cincinnati Enquirer
  • April 13, Lawmakers shouldn’t be able to flee from questions on ‘divisive concepts’ bills, Ohio Captial Journal
  • April 12, 'Shameful and divisive,' Columbus City Schools rails against HB 616, ABC
  • April 12, Bills prove Republicans stoking flames to control speech on college campuses, Columbus Dispatch
  • April 12, Local representatives discuss Ohio’s so-called “Don’t Say Gay” bill, ABC 13​
  • April 11, Educators fear Ohio bill prohibiting "divisive" teachings, Axios Columbus
  • April 10, Ohio lawmakers' gender, 'racist concepts' bill reeks of 'headline envy', Columbus Dispatch
  • ​April 10 , Let Ohio teachers teach truth. Educators, kids casualties of raging culture war, Columbus Dispatch
  • ​April 9, Educators react to Ohio 'Don't Say Gay' bill, Sandusky Register
  • April 8, The State of Ohio: What Can Be Said In The Classroom?, Ideastream Public Media
  • April 8, Ohio House Bill 616 combines Florida so-called “Don’t Say Gay” and divisive concepts bills, ideastream
  • April 7, Ohio Republicans introduce bill that would ban teaching of sexual orientation in lower grades, The Highland County Press
  • April7, Human Rights Campaign Mobilizes to Defeat Ohio’s “Don’t Say Gay or Trans” Education Censorship Bill, Human Rights Campaign
  • April 7, Schmidt defends new bill that would ban sex/gender instruction for young students, ABC 6
  • April 7, HB 616: Breaking down the controversial bill, Fox 8 
  • April 7, 'We don't even get a say in this.' LGBTQ students from Ohio weigh in on House Bill 616, Cincinnati Enquirer
  • April 7, Ohio's Version of 'Don't Say Gay' Bill Undermines School Choice, Reason
  • April 7, 'Don't Say Gay' bill denounced, Sandusky Register
  • April 6, What's in Ohio House Bill 616, the divisive concept bill that includes sexual orientation?, Columbus Dispatch
  • April 6, Ohio Chamber of Commerce concerned about ‘don’t say gay’ and racism education bill, Cleveland.com
  • April 6, Ohio House Introduces Similar  Bill, OSU Lantern
  • April 6, New Ohio bill combines ‘Don’t Say Gay’ with teaching restrictions on race, Journal News
  • April 6, Ohio moves to copy Florida's 'Don't Say Gay' law that bans teaching sexual orientation or gender identity to kids in kindergarten through third grade, Daily Mail
  • April 6, GOP lawmakers introduce "Don't Say Gay" bill in Ohio, Axios
  • April 6, Where Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine, his challengers stand on controversial HB 616, Cincinnati Enquirer
  • April 6, Ohio's LGBTQ kids would be forced in closet with lawmaker's 'Don't Say Gay' copy, Columbus Dispatch
  • April 6, Columbus educators, activists slam Florida 'Don't Say Gay' law as Ohio faces a similar one, Dispatch
  • April 5, House Republicans introduce Ohio version of the so-called 'Don’t Say Gay' bill, ideastream
  • April 5, House Republicans introduce Ohio's version of Florida’s 'Don’t Say Gay' bill, News 5
  • April 5, Florida ‘Don’t Say Gay’ law inspires proposed legislation in Ohio, CNN
  • April 5, Columbus mayor says Ohio House Bill 616 is "bigotry in one of its ugliest forms"
  • April 5, OEA denounces House Bill 616
  • April 5, Ohio Republicans introduce bill mirroring Florida's 'Don't Say Gay' law, ABC6
  • April 5, New Ohio House bill combines parts of Florida’s ‘don’t say gay’ with prohibition against teaching so-called ‘divisive concepts’ about race, Cleveland.com
  • April 5, Ohio Republicans introduce House Bill 616, their version of Florida's 'Don't Say Gay' law, Columbus Dispatch​
OHIO CONDEMNS HB 616

Honesty for Ohio Education

Ohio Education Association


Ohio Federation of Teachers

Equality Ohio

Human Rights Campaign

Ohio Chamber of Commerce

City of Columbus

​
Ohio Council of Churches

​
Columbus City Schools Joint Statement

Akron City Council Resolution

​Cleveland Heights - University Heights City School District

Gahanna-Jefferson City School District

Columbus City Schools

Mason City School District

Gambier Village Council

​Berea City School District
  • Get Informed
    • What is Honesty In Education >
      • Profile of an Honesty Leader
    • Ohio Statehouse >
      • HB 322 & HB 327 >
        • Why the Bills Hurt Ohio
      • HB 616
      • SB 214 - AAPI Studies
    • State Board of Ed >
      • SBOE Resolution
      • Superintendent >
        • What Ohio Needs in a Super
      • About the State Board
    • School Districts >
      • Know Your District
    • About Us
  • TAKE ACTION
    • Statehouse >
      • HB 616
      • HB 327
      • HB 454
      • SB 214 - AAPI Studies
    • State Board of Education >
      • State Superintendent
      • Gerrymandering
    • Local Districts
    • Combat Book Bans
    • Elections
    • SPEAK OUT
    • Become An Honesty Partner
    • GIVE To The Coalition
  • Youth Coalition
    • Events
  • Events
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    • Elections
  • Resources
    • Education Resources
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