Ohio’s prominent LGBTQ+ advocacy and legal aid organization, Equality Ohio, has updated its evaluation of Democratic gubernatorial candidate Dr. Amy Acton. The group announced that Acton’s rating on its 2026 Candidate Scorecard has been officially revised from "Pending" to a "B," resolving weeks of uncertainty surrounding her standing with the organization.
The shift marks the latest development in a grading process that began earlier this summer. Acton originally held an "A" rating from the advocacy group, but her standing was reduced to "Pending" on July 28 following remarks she made regarding transgender participation in school sports during an interview with the Toledo Blade.
In that June 30 interview, Acton addressed the U.S. Supreme Court’s decision upholding state-level bans on transgender athletes. During her remarks, she stated that she does not support boys competing in girls' sports, emphasizing that the issue is already settled law in Ohio and pledging that she would enforce and uphold the statute if elected governor. She further framed her stance by stating that as a physician, public servant, and mother, she is committed to fairness and protecting children’s health and safety.
Those comments prompted immediate pushback from LGBTQ+ advocates. When Equality Ohio moved her rating to "Pending" in late July, the organization issued a statement indicating that her status remained conditional, noting that updates would depend on whether the candidate chose to take meaningful steps forward in engaging the community.
The scorecard was formally revised online to reflect the "B" rating, accompanied by an explanatory note. The organization noted that the adjustment from an "A" down to a "B" was driven by her June 30 statements, explaining that the new grade reflects unresolved concerns regarding her commitment to supporting transgender Ohioans.
Dwayne Steward, the executive director and CEO of Equality Ohio, confirmed that the anticipated meaningful outreach had not materialized prior to the update. Steward clarified that a requested formal meeting directly with Acton had not taken place, despite some campaign-level interactions.
According to Steward, Equality Ohio was unable to confirm any direct, meaningful engagement between Acton's campaign and the transgender community. He explained that the "B" evaluation captures lingering worries regarding her support for transgender residents while balancing her broader record and public positions, defining the grade as an indicator of an insufficient record coupled with supportive public statements.
The scorecard provides a stark contrast across the rest of the gubernatorial field. Republican nominee Vivek Ramaswamy maintains an "F" grade, which Equality Ohio defines as having a poor record and being likely to harm LGBTQ+ civil rights. Libertarian contender Don Kissick remains unrated on the scorecard.
The decision to assign Acton a "B" rating has generated vocal pushback from within Ohio's LGBTQ+ political ranks. Ari Childrey, an openly transgender candidate running for the Ohio House of Representatives in the 84th District, strongly condemned Equality Ohio's grade adjustment.
Childrey, who had been awarded an "A+" rating alongside the designation of "Champion of Equality" on the same scorecard, characterized the decision as an insult to candidates who consistently stand by the transgender community. She argued that granting a "B" to a candidate who backed exclusionary sports policies and misgendered trans youth undermines the scorecard's credibility and suggests that anti-trans rhetoric is being excused.
Drawing a historical parallel, Childrey compared the organization's adjustment to the 2007 decision by the Human Rights Campaign to support federal employment nondiscrimination legislation that omitted protections for transgender workers. In response, Childrey announced she would no longer accept or display her own "A+" rating from Equality Ohio.
Childrey asserted that an "A+" designation loses its value when the underlying scorecard lacks integrity. She stated that she would allow her own campaign record to be judged directly by voters and the transgender community, emphasizing that defending human dignity should not be compromised for political triangulation or poll-driven strategy.
The digital update to Acton's grade occurred just days before a major security incident at the Canfield Fair. During the fair, an armed man pushed through a crowded area toward Acton, knocking several individuals to the ground before being subdued and detained by members of her Ohio State Highway Patrol security detail.
Acton was not injured during the encounter. Law enforcement officials reported that the suspect was carrying two handguns, a Taser, and brass knuckles, though he did not brandish the weapons during the confrontation. The individual has pleaded not guilty to charges including assault, disorderly conduct, and inducing panic, while authorities continue to investigate his motives.
Throughout the unfolding grading review, Acton's campaign has remained largely quiet on the matter. Outreach from media outlets seeking clarification on her platform and her dialogue with LGBTQ+ groups has yielded limited communication, with the campaign previously citing scheduling constraints while directing reporters to open public campaign events across the state.
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