Protecting Ohio’s Academic Excellence and Economic Competitiveness

As a resident of Ohio and consistent voter, I am writing to express my strong opposition to current legislative efforts to ban Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) offices and restrict the discussion of "divisive concepts" in our schools and universities (such as HB 155 and HB 698). Ohio is a pluralistic society, and our strength lies in our ability to engage with a wide range of perspectives. I believe these bills are not only unnecessary but actively harmful to our state’s future for several reasons: - Undermining Workforce Readiness: To compete in a global economy, Ohio students must be prepared to work with people from all walks of life. Scrubbing history or identity from the classroom leaves our graduates ill-equipped for the modern professional world and makes Ohio less attractive to major employers who value inclusive environments. - Chilling Academic Freedom: These bills create an atmosphere of fear for educators, discouraging the honest teaching of American history and social science. Our universities should be marketplaces of ideas, not places where the government dictates which parts of our history are "safe" to discuss. - Driving Away Talent: If Ohio becomes known for restrictive educational environments, we will continue to lose our brightest young people and researchers to states that celebrate diversity. We should be focused on enjoying the diversity we have here to build a vibrant, welcoming state. I am for a state that trusts its teachers and respects its students' ability to handle complex truths. I am against using the Statehouse to wage culture wars that distract from our real challenges. Please vote NO on HB 155, HB 698, and any other legislation that seeks to censor our classrooms or dismantle essential student support systems.