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sex includes: (1) discrimination based on sexual orientation; and(2) discrimination based on gender identity. Originally passed in 1972, Title IXprohibits discrimination on the basis ofsex in any education program or activity offered by a recipient offederal financial assistance. Once implemented, Ohio schools that discriminate against LGBTQIA+ students could lose access to federal funding; however, implementation has been stalled by lawsuits, including one joined by Ohio Attorney General Dave Yost. Ohio School Board Members Brenden Shea and Mike Toal have introduced Resolutions before the State School Board to support such lawsuits, empower discrimination in Ohio schools, and perpetuate harmful misinformation about gender. The State School Board is scheduled to vote on the Toal Resolution on December 131h, and while it tones down the incendiary language of the Shea Resolution, ifpassed it would still be advocating that the State of Ohio spend millions of dollars in court to defend the right of schools to discriminate against children. It would cost Ohio Schools next to nothing to follow the federal guidelines, maybe some staff training, and student and community education work, to ensure that LGBTQIA+ students can be safe and feel respected in schools which they are REQUIRED BYLAW TO ATTEND. The strawman arguments often used against supporting our students being their authentic selves offer theoretical, disingenuous arguments about sports and bathrooms that are not rooted in reality. The fact is that our LGBTQIA+youth,particularly trans youth are in danger. The most recent U.S. Taansgender Survey reported that 80% of Ohio respondents who were out or perceived as transgender experienced some form of mistreatment during their K-12 school years, - "being verbally harassed,prohibited from dressing according to their gender identity, disciplined more harshly, or physically or sexually assaulted because people thought that they were transgender." 57% of those who were out or perceived as transgender in K-12 were verbally harassed, 27%were physically attacked, and 15%were sexually assaulted in K-12 because of being transgender 20%faced such severe mistreatment as a transgender person that they left a K-12 school 42% of respondents experienced serious psychological distress in the month before completing the survey Nationally, 40% ofrespondents have attempted suicide in their lifetime-nearly nine times the attempted suicide rate in the U.S.population (4.601o). t is unconscionable for the State of Ohio to spend money and time fighting against protections that could help keep our precious LGBTQIA+youth alive. 5