Equality Ohio Upgrades Amy Acton to a 'B' Grade Despite Anti-Trans Remarks

Ohio Democratic gubernatorial candidate Amy Acton received a 'B' grade from Equality Ohio after she stated she does not support boys playing in girls' sports. Acton previously held an 'A' rating, which was downgraded to 'Pending' after she called trans girls 'boys' and expressed support for sports bans. Equality Ohio adjusted the score to a 'B' to reflect 'insufficient record but supportive public statements,' noting that Acton has committed to standing up for discrimination and ensuring equal protection under the law. However, the organization noted that a requested meeting with Acton has not yet occurred. The grade change drew criticism from Ari Childrey, a trans identified candidate for the Ohio House, who called the move a 'slap in the face' to the community. Childrey stated that the 'B' grade suggests transphobia is not a significant issue. Meanwhile, Democratic advisors are encouraging candidates to take a middle-of-the-road position on transgender athletes to avoid being framed as radical. Strategists suggest that candidates should state their clear positions on sports and then shift the focus back to main issues like affordability and the cost of living.

Sources

• erininthemorning.com
  Equality Organizations Struggle Over How To Handle Anti-Trans Democrat Endorsements
• Yahoo
  Equality Ohio changes LGBTQ+ grade for Democratic gubernatorial candidate Amy Acton from ‘Pending’ to ‘B’
• them.us
  Democratic Operatives Want Candidates to Talk About Trans Athletes — Very Quickly, One Time — and Then Move On

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Paywall and unreadable sources

• NBC News
  Key Democrats oppose transgender athletes in female sports as issue hits the campaign airwaves
• Politico
  Democrats revamp their midterm playbook for GOP’s anti-trans attacks