Republican State Reps. Beth Lear and Josh Williams are at the center of a heated debate in Ohio that is drawing national attention. Their new bill, which aims to celebrate what they call the “natural family,” has ignited sharp responses from supporters and critics alike.

According to Fox News, House Bill 262 would designate the weeks between Mother’s Day and Father’s Day as “Natural Family Month.” The sponsors say this is meant to highlight the importance of traditional family structures, especially as marriage rates and birth rates reach record lows.

Yet the bill’s language and intent have drawn backlash from LGBTQ families and advocates who say it excludes diverse family units. Supporters argue the proposal responds to urgent demographic concerns, while opponents say it risks marginalizing families that don’t fit a narrowly defined mold. At the heart of the debate: what it means to be a family in Ohio and who gets to decide.

Lawmakers defend traditional family focus

Rep. Beth Lear and Rep. Josh Williams, both Republicans, have positioned House Bill 262 as a response to what they call troubling social trends. Lear pointed to declining marriage rates and a growing number of young adults choosing not to have children, warning that these shifts threaten the stability of American society.

Rep. Williams also underscored the economic and social stakes, referring to a CDC report that found U.S. birth rates hit a historic low in 2023. He stated that supporting strong, two-parent households is essential for ensuring the nation’s future and addressing what he calls an “imperative” need for a stable republic.

Williams, speaking to other outlets, clarified that the bill is designed to “promote natural families—meaning a man, a woman, and their children—as a way to encourage higher birth rates.” For him and Lear, the legislation is about more than symbolism; it’s a call to action for policymakers to shore up what they view as the foundation of society.

LGBTQ families voice strong objections

But not everyone agrees with the bill’s message or its implications. LGBTQ parents and advocates have spoken out, saying the focus on so-called “natural families” sends a damaging message to families that include same-sex couples, adoptive parents, and others who fall outside a traditional mold.

Vanessa Melendez of College Hill, who is a lesbian, married mother of two, shared with local media her concerns about the bill’s language. She said the use of the word “natural” feels like an attempt to exclude families like hers. Melendez, who has an adopted daughter and a stepson, said the proposal overlooks the variety of families who also provide loving, stable homes for children. As Melendez told WLWT5:

The elephant in the room on how they've positioned it is on the word 'natural.' And I think that what they're saying is if there's only one way to be a natural family, and that's entirely not true.

She also argued that Ohio lawmakers should celebrate all families, not just those following one model. “We don't want to take away from that one type of family, but there's so many other kinds of families,” Melendez added.

Demographics and politics shape the debate

The push for “Natural Family Month” comes as policymakers across the United States grapple with changes in family structure and population trends. The CDC reported a slight uptick in birth rates after 2023, but the general fertility rate remains near historic lows. Meanwhile, the Pew Research Center noted a record high in Americans reaching age 40 without ever marrying, signaling a significant cultural shift.

Supporters of the Ohio bill point to these numbers as evidence that action is needed. President Donald Trump, for example, recently floated a $5,000 “baby bonus” to encourage higher birth rates nationwide. Lawmakers like Williams and Lear argue that promoting traditional families is a necessary step to address these demographic challenges.

Yet critics say the bill risks alienating large numbers of Ohioans. LGBTQ advocates and single-parent families warn that defining “natural” too narrowly could have real social consequences, sending a message that some families are less valued than others.

What both sides say about inclusion

Rep. Williams has rejected claims that the bill is discriminatory, insisting it merely supports the family structure most closely tied to raising children. He pointed out that, under the same logic, some people argue against Pride Month by saying all orientations should be celebrated, not just those “alternative to the mainstream.”

Williams, who was raised by a single mother, also connected the bill to broader concerns about fatherlessness and its impact on children, especially in the Black community. He told WLWT5:

And we know the statistics that show that that results in a higher rate of poverty, a higher rate of dropping out of school, a higher rate, a higher rate of being on public assistance, a higher rate of engaging in criminal conduct.

Nonetheless, LGBTQ families and their allies remain concerned. They argue that public policy should reflect and embrace the diversity of today’s families. For these Ohioans, the debate is about more than just a symbolic month—it’s about recognition, dignity, and what it means to belong.