Action Alerts Update - April 11, 2025
LOVEboldly’s Action Alerts is a weekly resource curating calls to action, news, opinions, commentary, reflections, and updates on legislative actions in Ohio and the US government. We know that democracy dies in silence and darkness. This message is our candle for you.
Our Neighborhood - Faith, Sexuality, and Gender Identity
The Washington Blade - “Trans faith leaders, activists call for faith-based fight for trans rights”
The Advocate (Opinion) - “I asked God for acceptance, but these queer deities answered”
Waging Nonviolence - “The police raid of a UK Quaker meeting house has backfired, not surprisingly”
Religious Dispatches - “My Book on The Legacy of White Supremacy in American Christianity Was One of Hundreds Just Banned by the Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth”
What’s Catching Our Eyes
Erin in the Morning - “DOE, DOJ Launch Joint Investigations Team Targeting Trans Students”
The Buckeye Flame - “Trump administration cuts $250k grant to install 10 LGBTQ+ Ohio historical markers”
NBC4i (Columbus, OH) - “DOGE cancels $250,000 Ohio grant installing LGBTQ+ historical markers”
WOSU - “Ohio History Connection loses funding for LGBTQ+ history markers amid federal grant cuts”
10TV-WBNS (Columbus, OH) - “$250,000 in federal grants cut for Ohio LGBTQ+ historical markers”
American Library Association - “State of America's Libraries: A Snapshot of 2024”
NPR - “‘All Boys Aren't Blue' tops the ALA's list of most challenged books”
NBC News - “‘All Boys Aren’t Blue' and 'Gender Queer' top 2024 list of most 'challenged' library books”
Erin in the Morning - “Trump Defunds School Lunches In Maine Over Transgender People”
LGBTQ Nation - “Ace researcher explains why 31% of people think asexuality can be ‘cured’”
The Buckeye Flame - “Trump just called supporting trans youth ‘child abuse.’ Ohio parents respond.”
LGBTQ Nation - “Trump devotes “truly horrific” child abuse awareness decree to slandering parents of trans youth”
The Washington Blade - “US-funded South African LGBTQ groups curtail operations”
Baptist News Global - “Hegseth bans books by Jones, Butler, Wallis, Angelou and Kendi”
The 19th - “Black beauticians have always done more than style hair — they’ve built power”
The Hill - “70 percent of book challenges come from groups, elected officials: Research”
Out Magazine - “Are gay bars still safe spaces, or are they straight people's playgrounds?”
Reasons for Hope
Uncloseted Media - “Advocates Beat 91% of Last Year's Anti-LGBTQ Bills. How?”
Newsbreak - “‘Football Is For All’: NFL Player Khalen Saunders To Host LGBTQ-Friendly Football Camp”
LGBTQ Nation - “Gender-affirming care improves trans men’s quality of life”
GOMAG - “Why Queer Representation In Country Music Is So Important”
LGBTQ Nation - “Community rallied against MAGA councilman who tried to ban the pride flag. The result was shocking.”
RNS - “Pennsylvania faith groups build altar at ICE office in protest of immigration arrests”
Scratching Our Heads…Again
The Advocate - “Tennessee far-right pastor fears 'gay beam' airport scanner will make him queer”
Bills and Policies LOVEboldly is Following
Note - We will only list bills here that are new or updated. You can find all the bills we're tracking at www.loveboldly.net/billtracker.
Ohio General Assembly
*Updated* Senate Bill 34 (SB34)
LOVEboldly's Stance - OPPOSED
SB34 would require school districts to display images of at least one of nine (9) historical documents including the Mayflower Compact; The Declaration of Independence; The Northwest Ordinance; the mottoes of the United States and Ohio; The Ten Commandments; The Magna Carta; The Bill of Rights; The United States Constitution; and The Articles of Confederation.
SB34 was introduced on January 28, 2025, and assigned to the Senate Education Committee. The bill had it's first (sponsor) hearing on February 11, 2025. The bill had it's second hearing (proponent) on March 4, 2025, and it's third hearing (opponent) on March 11, 2025. It had a fourth hearing on April 1, 2025, and a fifth hearing on April 8, 2025.
*Updated* Sub House Bill 96 (Sub HB96)
LOVEboldly's Stance - OPPOSED
Sub HB96 is a new version of HB96, the House version of Ohio's budget. Among other bad provisions, it restricts all material referencing sexual orientation and gender identity to areas where minors can't find it in libraries. It also restricts state money from going to youth homeless shelters which support youth social transitions.
HB96 has had extensive hearings in both the House and the Senate since it was introduced on February 11, 2025. However, Sub HB96 is a new substitute bill with new provisions which make the funding package worse and even more harmful to the LGBTQIA+ community. On April 9, 2025, Sub HB96 was passed by the House. It now moves to the Senate.
US Congress - Bills
*NEW* US House Bill 2197 (HR2197) - No 340B Savings for Transgender Care Act
LOVEboldly's Stance - OPPOSED
HR2197 would restrict medications used for gender transitions from the 340B savings plans offered to federally qualified health centers.
HR2197 was introduced in the House on March 18, 2025, and assigned to the House Energy and Commerce Committee the same day.
*NEW* US House Bill 2387 (HR2387) - No Harm Act
LOVEboldly's Stance - OPPOSED
HR2387 would restrict the use of federal funds for gender-affirming care among minors.
HR2387 was introduced in the House on March 26, 2025, and assigned to three committees, principally the House Energy and Commerce Committee. The bill also had introductory remarks given by its lead sponsor.
*NEW* US House Bill 2452 (HR2452) - Keep Our Girls Safe Act of 2025
LOVEboldly's Stance - OPPOSED
HR2452 would define "sex" in Title IX as "biological sex" and limit that to male and female only.
HR2452 was introduced in the House on March 27, 2025, and assigned to the House Education and Workforce Committee the same day.
*NEW* US House Bill 2616 (HR2616) - PROTECT Kids Act
LOVEboldly's Stance - OPPOSED
HR2616 would require that any change to the gender or gender expression (including pronouns) of students in elementary and middle schools be approved by a parent.
HR2616 was introduced in the House on April 3, 2025, and referred to the House Education and Workforce
www.loveboldly.net/billtracker/ushr2616
*NEW* US House Bill 2617 (HR2617) - Say No to Indoctrination Act
LOVEboldly's Stance - OPPOSED
HR2617 would prohibit the teaching of "gender ideology" in primary and secondary education.
HR2617 was introduced in the House on April 3, 2025, and was referred to the House Education and Workforce Committee the same day.
Please reach out to admin@loveboldly.net or bhuelskamp@loveboldly.net if you have any questions.
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