Access full text to House Bill 616 here.

House Bill 616 is very similar to the Florida and Indiana "Don't Say Gay" bill. HB 616 was introduced Monday April 4, 2022 by Mike Loychik District 63 (R) and Jean Schmidt District 65 (R). Inclusive Culturally Responsive Educators at Bowling Green State University takes a firm and strong oppositional stance to this anti-gay and racist bill. 

The bill aims to...amend sections 3313.21, 3314.03, and 3326.11 and to enact section 3313.6029 of the Revised Code regarding the promotion and teaching of divisive or inherently racist concepts in public schools. This bill will impact primary AND secondary education.

If this bill is passed students across the state of Ohio will not be allowed to use the classroom as a space to understand cultures and identities outside of their own. If this bill is passed students will be shamed into believing their identity and culture do not belong inside classroom spaces. This bill will shut down critical conversations students need to partake in pertaining to sexual orientation, systemic racism, Eurocentricism, and so much more. This bill will affect LGBTQ2+ AND Students of Color as these are the populations who will be excluded in curriculum and representation in schools across Ohio. We have to protect underrepresented students and prevent this bill from being passed.

Inherently racist or divisive concepts are detailed in the bill as...

Sec. 3313.6029. (A) As used in this section:
(1) "Divisive or inherently racist concepts" include all of the following:
      (a) Critical race theory;
      (b) Intersectional theory;
      (c) The 1619 project;
      (d) Diversity, equity, and inclusion learning outcomes;
      (e) Inherited racial guilt;

Some other concerning excerpts from the bill to note:

Lines 51-64 state:

 (2) No school district, community school, STEM school,
nonpublic school that enrolls students who are participating in
a state scholarship program, or any employee or other third
party representing a school district or school shall do either
of the following:

   (a) With respect to a student in any of grades
kindergarten through three, teach, use, or provide any
curriculum or instructional materials on sexual orientation or
gender identity;

      (b) With respect to a student in any of grades four
through twelve, teach, use, or provide any curriculum or
instructional materials on sexual orientation or gender identity
in any manner that is not age-appropriate or developmentally
appropriate for students in accordance with state standards.

Lines 78-85 state:

(3) If the superintendent of public instruction finds that
the teacher, school administrator, or school district
superintendent violated division (B) or (C) of this section, the
department of education shall issue an adjudication order in
accordance with section 119.06 of the Revised Code taking
licensure action based upon the severity of the offense,
including, but not limited to, an official licensure
admonishment, licensure suspension, or licensure revocation.

Lines 65-68 state:

(C) No teacher shall receive continuing education credit
or other credit required for licensure renewal for any seminar
or other program that teaches, promotes, or endorses divisive or
inherently racist concepts.

Please sign and share this petition to show that students and educators across the state of Ohio do not want this bill infiltrating our curriculum.