Ohio Federation of Teachers (OFT) President Melissa Cropper joined the America’s Work Force Union Podcast and discussed a resolution being considered by the Ohio State Board of Education that would encourage Ohio school districts to defy a proposal by the U.S. Department of Education to enhance Title IX protections for gay and transgender students.
The resolution would also push the Ohio General Assembly to pass legislation forcing school officials to disclose to parents when their child asks for alternative names and pronouns to be used, or questions their gender identity. It would also back bills in the Ohio House and Senate that would ban transgender girls and women from playing girls and women’s high school and college sports, including a provision requiring a genital exam.
Cropper added the passage of the resolution would have a negative impact on transgender children in Ohio, and the passage of discriminatory laws would place these kids in danger.
Cropper then spoke about the Confetti Project at Buckeye Junior High School in Medina, Ohio where kids read inspirational books and talk about them to adults in an effort to push through shyness issues created by the COVID-19 pandemic. She also touched on recent OFT organizing campaign wins, which she described as an incredible groundswell of organizing in Ohio.
Listen to the entire episode to learn more about these topics.