By Rieley McDonnell, Staff Writer
Dr. Amy Acton is the lesser of two evils in Ohio’s gubernatorial race this cycle.
Acton’s opponent, Vivek Ramaswamy, is a Make America Great Again (MAGA) Republican with close ties to President Donald Trump. That fact alone makes Acton the better choice; MAGA cannot gain a stronger foothold within any state across the county.
While Acton, the Democratic candidate, may be the better choice, she has problems. Her stance on transgender rights has potentially lost her a number of votes. Back in June, Acton attended Columbus Pride, an event she showcased on her Instagram page. Supposedly this post is meant to show her support of the LGBTQ+ community, though recent comments she made have muddled this image.
The Supreme Court ruled that states could ban transgender athletes from competing in women’s sports. but the court did not “comment” on HB 68 – Ohio’s law. The states defending their laws were West Virginia and Idaho.
“I do not support boys playing in girls sports. This is already settled law in Ohio, and as governor I will enforce and uphold the law,” Acton stated in a comment made to local Toledo newspaper “The Blade” during Pride month.
Staff writer Rieley McDonnell encourages measured support of gubernatorial candidate Amy Acton after controversial statements.
Previously, Gov. Mike DeWine (R-OH) vetoed the bill, but the Ohio General Assembly overruled that veto. It is surprising that a Republican governor would veto a bill which would have curbed transgender rights, while the Democratic gubernatorial candidate essentially does the opposite.
This statement from Acton has damaged her reputation among voters who are transgender or who are allies to the transgender community. Ohio outlet “The Buckeye Flame” known as “Ohio’s LGBTQ+ newsroom” published commentaries about Acton which express discontent over Acton’s remarks.
“All we want is to be seen and respected for who we are. You do not have to fully understand our lives, but you must respect our right to live them freely, with the same equitable access to American life as anyone else,” Writer for the Flame, NV Gay stated in their article criticizing Acton’s statement. Transgender individuals are Ohio and U.S. citizens who deserve to live like any other American. Above that, they are also human beings who should be able to choose their path in life without worrying about discrimination from the law.
It is unfair to ask that a political candidate be perfect. It’s a trap that many left-leaning voters have fallen into over the years. Voters do not have the luxury to wait on a perfect candidate, which is why Amy Acton should be voted into the Ohio governorship.
However, it is perfectly reasonable to criticize them for their stances on issues like healthcare, human rights, etc. Acton needs to be held responsible for the transphobic comment she made to “The Blade.”
Further, human rights, LGBTQ+ rights, should not be a topic up for debate. Acton’s remarks show a fundamental break with the Democratic party platform and a lack of understanding regarding transgender persons.
Acton needs to win the gubernatorial race to protect Ohio from harm. However, her comments regarding transgender youth have now made her the lesser of two evils instead of a beacon of hope for Ohio.