1. United States
2. Ohio
3. Letter

Vote no on H.R. 2616. This bill — which now incorporates H.R. 2617 — is a national "Don't Say Gay" law that would strip federal funding from any school that so much as acknowledges an LGBTQ+ student or teacher's identity. That's not parental rights. That's using federal dollars to erase kids. The harm here is real and well-documented. LGBTQ+ youth already face disproportionate rates of depression, anxiety, and suicide. Forced outing to unsupportive or abusive parents puts vulnerable students at direct risk. H.R. 2616 would codify that danger into federal law by mandating parental approval before a school can use a student's correct name or pronouns — even when doing so could expose that child to harm at home. Schools and teachers who offer basic affirmation would lose their funding. This bill doesn't protect kids. It targets them. Oppose this legislation and make that opposition public. Your LGBTQ+ constituents and everyone who cares about student safety is watching this vote.