Published on January 6, 2024, 1:03 am

A trans-identifying man, aspiring to participate in the race for the Ohio State House of Representatives, has been invalidated due to a failure in unveiling his birth name, or what is commonly termed as “dead name” among trans-identifying individuals. Vanessa Joy was notified by electoral officials that he did not fulfill the eligibility criteria necessary to contest as a Democrat for the Ohio House District 50. This disqualification was despite the fact that he had amassed enough signatures for nomination but had contravened an obscure 1995 Ohio legislation.

This law mandates candidates seeking public office to disclose any legal changes in their names within the past five years in their signature petitions. An exception is made for those who have altered their surnames following marriage, as reported by The Hill. Joy, who legally changed his name and updated it on his birth certificate in 2022, professed ignorance about this particular statute.

“I would’ve had no choice but to include my dead name on my petitions,” Joy shared with News 5 Cleveland while explaining his predicament. He emphasized how profoundly members of the trans community regard their “dead names.” As per him, these names denote individuals who no longer exist and are figuratively deemed as deceased and buried.

Joy’s intention was to compete against Matthew Kishman, a candidate from GOP, in a primarily Republican district located south of Akron. He voiced concerns regarding how this law could potentially deter trans-identified persons from considering political candidature in future races.

Claiming that if he was aware of this legal obligation earlier, he would’ve complied with it because securing an election win held significant importance for him. However, according to Joy such a condition acts as an obstruction for others considering entering politics due its intrusive nature toward personal identity.

Surprisingly, this requirement of disclosing name modifications does not feature prominently in the secretary of state’s candidate guide created for 2024 elections. That aside, the political climate in Ohio seems contentious with Governor Mike DeWine recently vetoing a House bill aiming to prevent children from receiving transgender medical treatments. This includes puberty blockers, cross-sex hormones, and gender surgeries, besides restricting trans-identified students from participating in sports as the opposite sex.

Predictions suggest that a vote on Wednesday may just overturn this governor’s veto. Interestingly, Joy’s own stepfather, Bill Roemer—a member of the Ohio House—backed this controversial bill. Undeterred by these developments, Joy remains determined to rally against Roemer and other Republicans.

Ohio state House races have seen three other trans-identifying persons join as candidates. Their fate remains uncertain with respect to disqualification following the revelation of Joy’s situation. As per current schedule, the primary for the state House race is slated for March 19.