Oppose House Bill 693 and Protect LGBTQ+ Youth

I am writing to urge you to oppose House Bill 693, introduced by Rep. Gary Click and Rep. Josh Williams on February 12, 2026. This 55-page bill would harm vulnerable LGBTQ+ youth across Ohio while undermining local control and professional expertise. House Bill 693 would overturn conversion therapy bans in Cleveland, Akron, Columbus, Cincinnati, and Cuyahoga County. Over 28 major medical organizations have discredited conversion therapy as a hateful, misleading, and dangerous practice. By redefining counseling to "reverse" someone from being transgender as not legally considered conversion therapy, this bill would expose young people to discredited practices that cause documented psychological harm. The legislation would bar teachers from using students' preferred pronouns and prevent discipline for teachers who refuse to do so. This provision weaponizes educators in a political culture war and attacks the autonomy and professionalism of teachers who work daily with students. It also targets Cuyahoga County's Sexual Orientation Gender Identity and Expression policy, stripping away local communities' ability to establish their own child welfare standards. The bill's custody provisions would allow parents to refuse support for their LGBTQ+ children without consequence and permit foster placements with families who reject transgender identities. These measures prioritize ideology over the wellbeing of children in state care who are already among our most vulnerable populations. House Bill 693 enforces compliance by threatening to withdraw state funding from any government entity that doesn't follow its mandates. This represents a severe overreach that punishes local communities for protecting their residents. I ask you to oppose House Bill 693. Our state should support policies grounded in medical evidence and professional expertise, not legislation that exposes young people to harm. LGBTQ+ youth deserve the same safety, dignity, and opportunity to thrive as all Ohio children.