Ohio's 'Natural Family Month' Proposal Faces Backlash Over Exclusion of LGBTQ+ and Single-Parent Households
Introduced by Republican lawmakers, the bill defines family narrowly, prompting criticism from advocacy groups and raising concerns about discrimination.
Overview
- House Bill 262, introduced on May 13, 2025, seeks to designate the weeks between Mother's Day and Father's Day as 'Natural Family Month.'
- The bill, supported by the Natural Family Foundation, defines a 'natural family' as a heterosexual, monogamous couple with children and a male leader from the family lineage.
- Critics, including Equality Ohio, have condemned the measure as discriminatory, arguing it invalidates single-parent and LGBTQ+ households.
- Proponents of the bill cite declining U.S. fertility rates and emphasize the importance of two-parent households for societal stability.
- Governor Mike DeWine has denied claims that Ohio is fostering an anti-LGBTQ+ climate, despite the bill and other recent measures criticized by advocacy groups.