"Transgender Candidate Barred from Ohio Race Over Name Disclosure Law"

Vanessa Joy, a transgender woman, was disqualified from running for the Ohio House of Representatives because she did not list her former name on her candidacy petition, as required by Ohio law for those who have changed their names within the last five years. The law does not provide exemptions for transgender individuals who have changed their names as part of their transition, unlike those who change their names due to marriage. Joy's disqualification highlights the challenges faced by transgender and gender-nonconforming individuals in political participation. This incident occurs amidst broader discussions on transgender rights in Ohio, following Governor Mike DeWine's veto of a bill restricting transition-related care for minors and transgender girls' participation in school sports. Joy has filed a petition to contest her disqualification.