Republican gubernatorial candidate Vivek Ramaswamy earns an ‘F’ from leading Ohio LGBTQ+ group

This story originally appeared on The Buckeye Flame.Republican Ohio gubernatorial nominee Vivek Ramaswamy states on his website that he is “fighting to lift all Ohioans.” His past statements about LGBTQ+ issues tell a different story. Ramaswamy received an “F” on Equality Ohio’s 2026 Candidate Scorecard, indicating that he has a “poor record and likely to harm LGBTQ+ civil rights.” Dr. Amy Acton, his Democratic opponent, currently has a grade of “Pending.”Using research from both The Buckeye Flame and the GLAAD Accountability Project, we have compiled a list of Ramaswamy’s past statements on LGBTQ+ individuals to help inform LGBTQ+ voters on his positioning. The list, in reverse chronological order, starts with his most recent remarks, in his campaign for governor, followed by statements he made during his run in the Republican presidential primary during the last election cycle.June 30, 2026: Ramaswamy misgendered trans individuals in response to the U.S. Supreme Court decision upholding state bans on trans students’ participation in school sports. He told the Toledo Blade, “Ohio has barred men from competing with women in women’s sports, and the Supreme Court has now held that it’s constitutional. I’ll enforce [the ban] after I’m elected.”April 2025: Ramaswamy touted the endorsements of numerous anti-LGBTQ+ Republican Ohio state representatives, including:Rep. Rodney Creech: author of the language, now passed into law, that bans menstrual products from being placed in men’s rooms in public buildings. In 2023, Creech was accused by a minor of sexual abuse after the minor told police Creech crawled into bed with her while he was partially unclothed and erect. The investigation did not yield charges, but Creech was booted from his committee assignments by Republican leadership from May 2025 to February 2026.Rep. Gary Click: sponsor of the law banning gender-affirming care in Ohio and prohibiting trans female athletes from playing i