Akron Fights for Trans Rights : Sanctuary City Campaign
Why
Act Now?
Ohio’s Legislature is targeting trans lives through House Bill 796 House Bill HB693 House Bill HB249 House Bill HB838 — Akron DSA is fighting to make Akron a sanctuary city for trans people.
HB249 — Drag Ban
Read it yourself!- Bans drag and restricts trans people by labelling gender non-conformity in performance as “masturbation.”
- Designates places that host drag performances as “adult cabarets.”
- Harms queer workers in the performance industry by outlawing their craft and means of economic participation.
HB693 — Affirming Families Act
Read it yourself!- Legally refuses to label psychological damages caused by cisheterosexist parenting around gender identity as child abuse.
- Gives legal weight to parents over the individual in recognition of their own gender.
- Trans youth lose autonomy and legal control over their own lives, including increasing difficulty in seeking GAC independently.
- Weakens prohibitions on conversion therapy for trans youth.
HB838 — Healthcare Coverage
Read it yourself!- Makes it illegal for state employees to receive portions of gender-affirming care through their employment benefits.
- Places the full burden of healthcare costs on the worker, making necessary care inaccessible.
HB796 — Prison Housing
Read it yourself!- Mandates that inmates and prisoners be housed according to biological sex rather than gender identity.
- Forces trans people to stay in wrong-gender prisons, exposing them to significant risk of harm.
Protections We’re Fighting For
-
Protection 01
No city penalties for seeking gender-affirming care
No individual should face city-level penalties for seeking, receiving, or assisting someone in accessing gender-affirming healthcare.
HB693Bans gender-affirming care for minors by targeting care providers. Our legislation would direct the city of Akron to deprioritize investigation and enforcement of these restrictions.
-
Protection 02
Deprioritized enforcement of anti-trans penalties
Criminal or civil penalties targeting trans individuals for expressing their identity should not be enforced at the city level.
HB249Creates criminal records — including felony charges and sex offender registration — for artists who are gender non-conforming or incorporate gender non-conformity in their work.
-
Protection 03
No disclosure of assigned sex at birth
The city will not collect or share information about a trans individual’s sex assigned at birth, except where strictly necessary for medical care.
HB838Requires teachers and state employees to out trans and LGBT+ minors to their parents, regardless of the child’s safety or wellbeing.
-
Protection 04
No sharing of trans data with outside jurisdictions
Akron will not collect or share information about trans individuals with other cities, counties, or states where that information could be used to target or penalize them.
-
Protection 05
No use of sex at birth data in city records or employment
The city of Akron will not collect or disclose assigned sex at birth information in public records, city employment, or municipal services — trans residents have the right to be recognized as who they are in every interaction with their city government.
Oct
23
2025
Akron Fights for Trans Rights
Relaunched in October 2025, AFTR has been working to engage Akron residents through a blend of canvassing and community meetings.