{"version":1,"type":"rich","provider_name":"Libsyn","provider_url":"https:\/\/www.libsyn.com","height":90,"width":600,"title":"HB616: Ohio\u2019s \u201cDon\u2019t Say Gay, Don\u2019t Mention Race\u201d Bill","description":" Ohio House Bill 616, introduced by two Republican state lawmakers, would mandate controversial changes to portions of Ohio\u2019s Revised Code that sets standards for public schools.\u202f   The bill is similar to Florida\u2019s so-called \u201cDon\u2019t Say Gay\u201d bill, which banned instruction on gender identity and sexual orientation in grades K-3. That bill was signed into law by Florida\u2019s governor in March 2022.      The bill would ban instruction on \u201csexual orientation or gender identity\u201d in K-3 public classrooms and would restrict instruction on race in the state\u2019s public schools.    The Columbus Metropolitan Club invited the two sponsors of HB616, Ohio State House Representatives Jean Schmidt and Mike Loychik, to participate in this panel, but did not receive a response to its invitations.    This CMC forum was recorded live on June 1, 2022.   The speakers are:   Maria Bruno, Public Policy Director, Equality Ohio     Scott DiMauro, President, The Ohio Education Association    Bruce Hooley, Host of The Bruce Hooley Show   Densil Porteous, Executive Director, Stonewall Columbus     Troy McIntosh, Executive Director, The Ohio Christian Education Network, The Center for Christian Virtue    The host is Anna Staver, State House Reporter for The Columbus Dispatch\/USA Today Gannett Ohio Bureau. This forum was sponsored by Hannah News Service. The forum partners were WBNS 10TV and The League of Women Voters of Metropolitan Columbus, with support from The Columbus Dispatch.  ","author_name":"The Columbus Metropolitan Club","author_url":"http:\/\/columbusmetroclub.org","html":"