Ohio governor signs athletes’ religious expression bill
Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine speaks Jan. 21, 2022 in Newark, Ohio. Gov. DeWine has signed a bill into law protecting athletes’ religious expression. The bill was inspired by an Ohio teen disqualified from a cross-country race for wearing a hijab without a required waiver. The measure signed by DeWine Monday, Feb. 28, 2022 prohibits school sports regulators from requiring advance waivers or otherwise restricting participants’ religious apparel unless it causes a “legitimate danger.” (AP Photo/Paul Vernon, file)
COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP) — Schools and school sports regulators could no longer require advance waivers or otherwise restrict participants’ religious apparel unless it causes a “legitimate danger” for fellow competitors, under a bill signed into law Monday by Gov. Mike DeWine.
The measure was inspired by an Ohio teen disqualified from a cross-country race because she was wearing a hijab without a required waiver.
Bill sponsor Sen. Theresa Gavarone, a Bowling Green Republican, researched the legislation after learning of the experience of Noor Abukaram, a runner at Sylvania Northview in suburban Toledo who was disqualified over her hijab in 2019.
At the time, Ohio High School Athletic Association rules banned most head coverings and caps unless competitors received religious exemption waivers in advance. Abukaram’s coach acknowledged making a mistake by not obtaining a waiver but said he didn’t think it was needed because it hadn’t been an issue at prior races.
OHSAA has since changed its rules to let referees approve use of religious head coverings if a coach asks before a competition, without a formal waiver. Despite that change, Abukaram continued having problems with race officials, making the legislation necessary, according to Gavarone.