Will Ohio be the Next State to Pass a 'Don't Say Gay' Bill?

Modeled after Florida's controversial law dubbed by critics as the "Don't Say Gay" bill, two Republican state lawmakers in Ohio have introduced a similar measure, according to CNN.

Using similar language to Florida's Parental Rights in Education bill, which Gov. Ron DeSantis signed into law last month, Ohio's House Bill 616 would ban teaching or providing "any curriculum or instructional materials on sexual orientation or gender identity" to students in kindergarten through third grade.

But the measure goes even further than Florida's law as it would prevent the state's public educators in grades four through 12 from using "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." As CNN noted, the bill language is vague and does not specify what "age-appropriate" or "developmentally appropriate" material actually is.

Additionally, the bill would also ban curriculum for all grades that teach, promote or endorse "divisive or inherently racist concepts." The measure would also ban textbooks, instructional materials or academic curricula that "promote" concepts like critical race theory or "any other concept that the state board of education defines as divisive or inherently racist."

Ohio state Rep. Mike Loychik, a sponsor of the bill, took to Twitter Tuesday, writing, "Curriculum about gender identity and sexuality has no place in K-3 classrooms, period. That's why I just introduced a bill to ban curriculum about sexuality and gender identity until 3rd grade in Ohio."

Other states have considered a similar "Don't Say Gay" bill. Earlier this week, Texas Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick released a campaign email about implementing a law similar to Florida's "Don't Say Gay" legislation. Patrick said it will be his priority in Texas if he is re-elected. A similar situation happened in Louisiana where a state representative said she was inspired to come up with her own more restrictive version of Florida's "Don't Say Gay" bill, which would bar classroom discussion of sexual orientation or gender identity up through eighth grade, and explicitly make it illegal for school staff to even acknowledge their own sexuality or gender identity when speaking with students. There was also a similar bill introduced in Georgia that has gone under the radar.