HB1/SB8 will be Ohio’s Downfall

I am deeply saddened and disgusted to be associated with the state of Ohio and to be one of your constituents. The law going into effect on Feb. 25th to take diversity learning out of schools is abhorrent. As a graduate student in a doctoral psychology program it is paramount for me to learn about other people’s lived experiences that are different than mine be it age, gender, sexuality, religion, or ethnicity. The long term impacts this bill will have on Ohioans will be for decades. You will have badly needed mental health professionals leaving the state and leaving little to no care or barely minimal care at best for Ohioans. That state of mental care will impact how people cope which leads to things like drug use and abuse. Ohio is already hurting from the opioid epidemic and now you creating a situation where another substance can take its place. That will affect families and young children and then public school and then industry and health care. Are you not thinking about long term consequences for ALL people in your state? You are not an Ohioan if you are not working for all of us.