From Trans Bans to Armed Teachers:
Ohio’s White Supremacy Playbook
By Vix Burgett-Prunty
If you’ve been following Ohio politics lately, the news might feel like a chaotic whirlwind: bans on transgender healthcare, armed teachers in classrooms, voting restrictions, and the looming threat of an abortion ban. The common thread: white supremacy culture.
Woman Suffrage Parade/Library of Congress (1914) by Harris & Ewing, photographer National Women’s History Museum
Now, before anyone dismisses this as hyperbole, let’s clarify what we mean by “white supremacy culture.” It’s not just about hoods and hate groups (though those are part of it). Sociologist Tema Okun defines it as a system of beliefs and behaviors that uphold racial hierarchy, control, and fear of difference, often in subtle, institutional ways. And right now, Ohio’s political landscape is a textbook example of how it operates.
In this article, we’ll break down how four major Ohio news stories, the transgender care ban, the “Don’t Say Gay” expansion, the attack on voting rights, and the push for armed teachers, all stem from the same playbook. Then, we’ll explore what we can do to fight back.
Last week, the Ohio Supreme Court heard arguments over House Bill 68, which bans gender-affirming care for minors and bars transgender girls from school sports. At the same time, Ohio Republicans introduced a bill to expand Florida’s “Don’t Say Gay” law, prohibiting discussions of sexual orientation and gender identity in all grades, K-12.
White supremacy doesn’t just enforce racial hierarchy, it also enforces rigid gender roles, heteronormativity, and the myth of a “pure” society. Historically, laws policing gender and sexuality (like anti-sodomy laws or bans on interracial marriage) were tools to maintain control. Today, attacks on trans youth serve the same purpose: defining who “belongs” and who doesn’t.
When lawmakers claim they’re “protecting children,” what they’re really doing is enforcing a narrow, traditionalist view of family and identity, one that excludes anyone who challenges the status quo. This aligns perfectly with white supremacy’s obsession with purity and fear of difference.
Support LGBTQ+ organizations like Equality Ohio (https://www.equalityohio.org) and TransOhio (https://www.transohio.org), which provide resources and advocacy.
Push back in schools by attending school board meetings and demanding inclusive policies.
Amplify trans voices, specifically Black trans voices because the best way to counter misinformation is with real stories.
A coalition of progressive groups recently launched a campaign for a state constitutional amendment to expand voting access, including automatic voter registration, same-day registration, and stronger anti-gerrymandering rules. Unsurprisingly, Ohio Republicans are fighting it, claiming it could lead to “voter fraud.”
Voter suppression has always been a key tool of white supremacy. After Reconstruction, Southern states used poll taxes and literacy tests to block Black voters. Today, the tactics are different (strict ID laws, purging voter rolls, limiting ballot drop boxes), but the goal is the same: keeping power in the hands of those who already have it.
Ohio’s GOP knows that more voters = more democracy = less control for them. By opposing measures that make voting easier (especially for young, Black, and low-income Ohioans), they’re ensuring their grip on power stays tight.
Volunteer with voter mobilization groups like Ohio Organizing Collaborative (https://ohorganizing.org) or All On The Line Ohio (https://www.allontheline.org).
Challenge gerrymandering by supporting fair redistricting efforts.
Talk to friends & family about why voting access matters—myths about “fraud” crumble under scrutiny.
The Ohio House just passed HB 99, a bill that would allow teachers to carry guns in schools after only 24 hours of training. Supporters claim it’s about “school safety,” but critics point out that arming teachers does nothing to address root causes of violence, like underfunded mental health services or easy access to firearms.
White supremacy culture glorifies violence as a solution. Instead of investing in counselors, anti-bullying programs, or community support, this bill normalizes the idea that more guns = more safety, a myth that disproportionately harms Black and brown students, who are already over-policed in schools.
It also fits a broader agenda of fear-based control: if people are scared (of school shootings, of “outsiders,” of change), they’re easier to manipulate.
Demand funding for mental health staff, not guns, in schools.
Support groups like Moms Demand Action Ohio (https://momsdemandaction.org), which advocate for sane gun laws.
Challenge the narrative that arming teachers is the answer, research shows it increases risks, not safety.
After Arizona’s Supreme Court upheld an 1864 abortion ban, Ohio Democrats warned that the state’s own blocked six-week ban could return if Republicans regain power. This isn’t just about abortion, it’s about who gets to control bodies, families, and futures.
Reproductive control has always been a tool of white supremacy. From forced sterilizations of Black and Indigenous women to welfare policies that punish poor mothers, the goal is the same: deciding who gets to reproduce, and under what conditions.
Ohio’s six-week ban (which has no exceptions for rape or incest) would disproportionately harm Black, low-income, and rural women, the same groups already facing systemic barriers to healthcare.
Donate to abortion funds like Ohio Women’s Alliance (https://ohiowomensalliance.org).
Support the November ballot measure to protect abortion rights in Ohio’s constitution.
Talk openly about abortion, stigma only helps those who want to ban it.
These laws aren’t random. They’re part of a playbook designed to maintain power by dividing us. But Ohioans have fought back before, against gerrymandering, against abortion bans, against hate, and we can do it again.
The best antidote to white supremacy culture?
Community care supporting marginalized folks directly.
Healing centers dedicated to deconstructing white supremacy culture.
Political action like voting, organizing, protesting. (Real protests)
So here’s my question for you: What’s one thing you’ll do this week to push back?
Final Note: If you found this article helpful, share it! The more people understand how these issues connect, the harder it becomes for politicians to divide us. Let’s keep the conversation going. 💜
References & Citations
Cleveland.com. (2024). Ohio Supreme Court Weighs Transgender Care Ban.
The Columbus Dispatch. (2024). Ohio GOP Expands LGBTQ+ School Restrictions.
Ohio Capital Journal. (2024). Progressives Launch Ballot Measure for Voting Access.
Dayton Daily News. (2024). Ohio House Passes Controversial School Guns Bill.
Cincinnati Enquirer. (2024). Ohio Dems Warn of Arizona-Style Abortion Threat.
Okun, T. (1999). White Supremacy Culture Characteristics.* Dismantling Racism Works.