News & Commentary

It’s lame duck season in the state of Ohio and this year seems like the “super special” version. During the lame duck session, the legislature has just a few short weeks to pass laws before all bills have to start over from scratch in the new year.

On December 13, Governor John Kasich signed the 20-week abortion ban into law. SB127 is Ohio’s most recent attempt to close all clinics and make abortion care completely inaccessible for women who need it. This ban will impact women such as Sheva Guy, who, after receiving heartbreaking news about her pregnancy, was forced to travel 300 miles for the medical care she required. Sheva’s Story When Sheva was 22 weeks pregnant, her husband accompanied her to the doctor for a routine, second-trimester ultrasound, The happy couple was thrilled to learn they were having a girl. Their excitement turned to anxiety, though, when the technician struggled to get organ measurements. Unable to give the couple any answers, the doctor sent Sheva to a high-risk pregnancy specialist at a different hospital.

Let’s be honest. The election of Donald Trump as president felt like a kick in the gut to many supporters of the ACLU of Ohio. The size of Trump’s victory in the Buckeye State—eight percentage points—was especially disheartening for those who defend the rights of people whom our next president attacked: people of color, women, immigrants, people with disabilities, and others.

Illinois sets the stage for abortion access in America

People who identify as transgender or gender nonconforming (GNC) are expected to clarify, justify and apologize for their identity every day. For many, inappropriate personal questions are a daily reality.  It’s no surprise then, to hear that these same dehumanizing hurdles have worked their way into our polling places. According to the Williams Institute, strict voter ID laws across the nation threatened to disenfranchise more than 25,000 transgender people in the 2012 presidential election. Below are a few common issues faced by transgender people at the polls, along with resources to help you vote comfortably and confidently in Ohio. ISSUE: My current gender presentation doesn’t match the gender marker or presentation shown on my photo ID. SOLUTION: Gender identity or presentation has no impact on your constitutional right to vote. You may have noticed, unlike many other states including Michigan and California, Ohio does not ask voters to declare their gender or select a gender prefix on our voter registration forms.  It is also important to note that a photo ID is not required to vote in Ohio.