Equality Ohio has changed its rating of Democratic Ohio gubernatorial candidate Dr. Amy Acton again, moving her from “Pending” to a “B” despite acknowledging that the campaign has yet to demonstrate the “meaningful steps” the organization previously said would be necessary to resolve concerns over Acton’s comments about transgender people.
The LGBTQ+ advocacy organization initially gave Acton an “A” on its 2026 Candidate Scorecard. That changed in July after Acton addressed transgender participation in sports during an interview with the Toledo Blade.
“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 said. “As a doctor, public servant, and a mom, I will always stand up for fairness and protect kids’ health and safety.”
Equality Ohio responded by dropping Acton’s rating to “Pending,” calling the remarks harmful and saying they reflected a broader pattern of scapegoating transgender people. At the time, the organization left the door open for Acton to repair the damage.
“Should Dr. Acton choose to take meaningful steps forward, we will update the status accordingly,” Equality Ohio said in July.
From Pending to B, But What Changed?
That makes the latest update particularly notable.
Equality Ohio’s online scorecard now gives Acton a “B,” a grade the organization defines as representing a “mostly strong record or insufficient record but supportive campaign platform.” The explanation accompanying Acton’s rating says her June remarks resulted in the lower grade because of “unresolved concerns about support for trans Ohioans.”
But according to The Buckeye Flame, Equality Ohio CEO and Executive Director Dwayne Steward confirmed that the organization has not yet been able to verify meaningful engagement between Acton’s campaign and transgender communities. A requested meeting with the candidate also has not occurred.
That distinction drew criticism from Ari Childrey, an openly transgender candidate for Ohio’s 84th House District who received an “A+” from Equality Ohio.
“If you can misgender trans girls, support discrimination, and still get a ‘B,’ Equality Ohio is telling us transphobia isn’t a big deal, or they’re admitting their scorecard is completely meaningless,” Childrey told The Buckeye Flame. She said she would no longer accept the organization’s exemplary rating of her own campaign.
Meanwhile, Republican gubernatorial candidate Vivek Ramaswamy retains an “F.” Equality Ohio cites his support for restrictions on gender-affirming care and previous rhetoric about transgender identity and the LGBTQ+ community.
For transgender Ohioans, however, the question surrounding Acton’s new grade is simpler: If “Pending” meant waiting for accountability and meaningful engagement, why did the grade change before either was confirmed?
