COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) -- Gov. Mike DeWine said he disagrees with advocates who argue the state is unwelcoming to the LGBTQ+ community. The governor was answering questions during a moderated Columbus Metropolitan Club forum on March 26 when he was asked whether Ohio is fostering an unfriendly cli mate for LGBTQ+ residents. The moderator said advocates claim DeWine has signed into law several bills that prompt bullying against transgender youth, like legislation regulating school restroom use. "I'd disagree with that, I would totally disagree with that," said DeWine. "I don't think we have done that. Look, you go back and look at everything that I have said as governor, in 'State of the State' speeches and other times, this should be a welcoming state. We want everybody to come to Ohio and feel welcomed in the state." Delaware, Marysville LGBTQ+ groups say local businesses are dialing back support When pressed, DeWine firmly denied there's "an anti-LGBTQ climate" in Ohio but said "it's important for all of us who in public office to speak out about that and for all of us to continue to make it clear that this is a state that welcomes everyone." DeWine reiterated that, "we want you to come to the state of Ohio, we want you to feel welcome here." DeWine's comments come as the Statehouse has advanced several bills that opponents deem "anti-LGBTQ+," instead of repealing Ohio's dormant same-sex marriage bans, removing antiquated HIV criminalization laws, passing a statewide conversion therapy ban or prohibiting LGBTQ+ discrimination. Ohio's list of "anti-LGBTQ+ bills" includes a measure requiring academic institutions to set separate bathrooms based on students' "biological sex." After the bill was signed into law last November, Ohio's only statewide trans-led organization, TransOhio, said more than 10,000 people called, emailed and wrote to DeWine urging for a veto. "Our trans students and educators deserve so much better. Trans people have been a part of Ohio long before it was Ohio, and we always will be," the group said. Proponents argue the legislation addressed concern from Ohio parents about their local schools allowing the opposite sex into shared restrooms or locker rooms. Sen. Andrew Brenner (R-Delaware) said he sponsored the bill because he supports "protecting women, and our daughters, by simply providing the specific facilities reserved for them." Columbus City Schools said this law is why the district reverted students' names to those reflected on birth certificates, leading to backlash from parents who said the move came without notice and harmed trans students. The district rescinded its trans and gender variant student policy in February, removing policy protecting names and pronouns.  Longtime advocate warns of Ohio deaths if federal HIV funding is cut DeWine also signed into law in January a bill coined by supporters as "The Parents' Bill of Rights," which goes into effect in April and will require teachers to notify parents before teaching "sexuality content" and of changes in a student's mental, emotional or physical health. A national crisis hotline said it received a significant increase in calls from LGBTQ+ youth in Ohio within hours after the governor approved the measure. Opponents said the bill will strip those youth of being able to confide in educators and school staff, putting them at risk of being outed to unsupportive families. The governor argued to reporters in January that the measure will provide a path for parents to be informed about what's going on in their child's life. "[Parents are] the first teachers, they're the best teachers, and that's very, very important," DeWine said, also noting that he does not see the bill as harming LGBTQ+ students. Another bill banning gender-affirming care for trans youth was vetoed by DeWine in late 2023. However, after the Statehouse voted to override the governor's veto, the ACLU filed a lawsuit against the measure, which yielded a five-day trial last July. While the Franklin County judge in that trial ruled in August the measure could go into effect, an appeals court decided in March that the law is unconstitutional. "Children are just not old enough, they're not mature enough to be able to make these lifelong decisions," said Rep. Gary Click (R-Vickery), the legislation's primary sponsor, when the law was enacted. "We wanted to put on the brakes and say, 'Wait a minute, this is an adult decision.'" Measles outbreak reported in Ohio after several more cases confirmed Mayors for Akron, Cleveland, Columbus and Toledo said in a joint statement that while they "are proud to offer trans-inclusive health care benefits to their employees," the law prevents young people from accessing those benefits. "While our city does everything we can to empower and lift up all our youth, the state law prevents parents in our city from making health care decisions for and with their child," Columbus Mayor Andrew Ginther said. Other LGBTQ-related bills that have been debated at the Statehouse include a measure prohibiting "adult cabaret performances" that opponents say would amount to a ban of drag queens in public, a bill to ban universities from asking students their preferred pronouns, and legislation prohibiting mental health service to minors without parental consent, which a leading advocacy group said could prematurely out LGBTQ+ teens. ...read more read less