News & Commentary

Pride Month is supposed to be a time of joyful celebration for the LGBTQ+ community. Instead, the legislature chose to score cheap political points at the expense of trans youth.

Living within a world where our existence is debated and oftentimes outlawed is challenging for any functioning trans adult, let alone a child. Trans healthcare is lifesaving, and our children deserve every possible ounce of support to grow up and become happy, healthy adults.

What are you hopeful for in your community?
What is your biggest worry for yourself, your family or your community?

My name is Micah Mitchell. I am a Master of Social Work/Ph.D candidate at The Ohio State University, a research associate at the Kirwan Institute for Race and Ethnicity, and a policy fellow at the ACLU of Ohio. I am also transgender.

To Chairman LaRe, Vice Chair White, Ranking Member Leland, and members of the House Criminal Justice Committee, thank you for this opportunity to provide proponent testimony for House Bill 456.

SJR 6 adds language to the Ohio Constitution explicitly prohibiting non-citizens of the United States from voting in Ohio's municipal elections. Non-citizens are already prohibited from voting in Ohio's elections via plain language in the Ohio Revised Code.

Thank you for the opportunity to present opponent testimony in today’s hearing on Senate Joint Resolution 5 (“SJR 5”) which, because it proposes an unnecessary and harmful response to a Supreme Court of Ohio decision, should be rejected soundly by this Committee.

Thank you for the opportunity to present testimony in support of Substitute House Bill 315 which, as was the case with the as-introduced bill, the ACLU of Ohio supports enthusiastically.

On May 11, Representatives Leland and Hillyer introduced changes to House Bill 315, altering a bill that reforms Ohio’s use of cash bail. The ACLU of Ohio reviewed the bill and, while we find some changes less favorable than others, we remain steadfast in our support.