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Gary Click
Member of the Ohio House of Representatives
from the 88th district
Incumbent
Assumed office
January 1, 2021
Preceded byBill Reineke
Personal details
Born (1965-12-29) December 29, 1965 (age 58)
Political partyRepublican
SpouseNanette
Children4
ResidenceVickery, Ohio
Alma materMidwestern Baptist College (BRE) Not accredited
Occupation
  • Politician
  • pastor

Gary N. Click (born December 29, 1965) is an American politician, the Ohio state representative from its 88th district. He won the seat in 2020, after incumbent Republican Bill Reineke left it to run for the Ohio Senate, defeating Democrat Chris Liebold 62.9% to 37.1%.[1]

Career

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Click earned a Bachelor of Religious Education from Midwestern Baptist College in 1990. In 2006, Click became a pastor to the Fremont Baptist Temple and has held that position ever since. He has worked in ministry for over 30 years and claims to have served many aspects including youth ministry, bus ministry, writing, radio, Christian education, and lobbying Congress on behalf of churches and Christian schools. He has also served as a chaplain for law enforcement and in hospice care.[2]

Positions

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Abortion

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Click opposes abortion. In 2022, Click and seven co-sponsors introduced a bill titled "The Personhood Act" which would ban abortion state-wide from the moment of conception.[3] In 2023, Click criticized Ohio's issue 1 ballot initiative which would create a constitutional right to abortion in Ohio, calling it "worse than Roe".[4]

LGBT rights

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Click opposes LGBT rights and supports conversion therapy for gay and trans people. In a sermon by Click discovered by Ohio Capital Journal, Click admitted to having helped with attempted conversion therapy. After condemning a California bill that sought to ban the practice as "an assault on the First Amendment," he described conversion therapy as counseling "someone who struggles with those same-sex attractions, or struggles with their gender identity," by showing them "what the bible says" and how to be "at one with the body God gave them." Click also emphasized his view that God provided a specific plan for the family and suggested that homosexuality, trans people, and single-parent homes all break from this plan.[5][6]

Click has called gender-affirming care for minors "child abuse".[7] In 2022, Click introduced a bill that would ban gender-affirming care for minors in Ohio. After that bill failed to pass, he introduced House Bill 68 in February 2023, which would ban gender-affirming care for minors as well as ban trans women from competing in women's sports.[8] The bill passed the legislature in December 2023, but was vetoed by Governor Mike DeWine. In January 2024, the legislature overrode DeWine's veto thereby making the bill law.[9] However, on April 16, 2024, a judge temporarily blocked the law from taking effect.[10] On August 6, 2024, a judge overturned the injunction and allowed the law to take effect immediately. The plaintiffs immediately announced an appeal.[11]

In January 2024, in a conversation about trans healthcare with several Republican legislators, Michigan State Rep. Josh Schriver asked, "If we are going to stop this for anyone under 18, why not apply it for anyone over 18? It’s harmful across the board and that’s something we need to take into consideration in terms of the endgame." Michigan State Rep. Brad Paquette and Gary Click expressed agreement with that sentiment.[12][13]

In October 2024, Click expressed opposition to a Baldwin Wallace University poll which attempted to measure Ohio voter's support for transgender rights and other political issues. Click objected to the poll using the term "gender identity" in the questions, saying that "There is no such thing as gender identity ... You are either male or you are female."[14]

Personal life

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Click met and married his wife Nanette while in college. They have four sons, Nathaneil, Zachary, Garrison, and Micah and four grandchildren. Click and his wife reside in Vickery, Ohio.[2]

Election history

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Election results[15]
Year Office Election Subject Party Votes % Opponent Party Votes % Opponent Party Votes % Opponent Party Votes %
2016 Sandusky County Commissioner Primary Gary Click Republican 1,861 17.55% Kay E. Reiter Republican 3,305 31.18% John C. Havens Republican 3,159 29.80% Justin C. Smith Republican 2,276 21.47%
2020 Ohio House of Representatives Primary Gary Click Republican 5,555 41.25% Shayne Thomas Republican 4,789 35.56% Ed Ollom Republican 3,124 23.20%
2020 Ohio House of Representatives General Gary Click Republican 32,823 62.90% Chris Liebold Democratic 19,359 37.10%

References

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  1. ^ "Click wins 88th district Ohio House race". TiffinOhio.net.
  2. ^ a b Click, Gary. "Gary Click Biography". ohiohouse.gov. Retrieved June 19, 2024.
  3. ^ Epstein, Jake (July 14, 2022). "An Ohio representative and Baptist pastor is proposing a state-wide ban on abortions from the moment of conception". Business Insider. Retrieved June 19, 2024.
  4. ^ Click, Gary (October 24, 2023). "Worse than Roe! To abort or not to abort: that is NOT the question". ohiohouse.gov. Retrieved June 19, 2024.
  5. ^ Roliff, Riley (May 24, 2023). "Sponsor of Ohio trans youth health care ban claims no religious motive. Sermon suggests otherwise". Ohio Capital Journal. Retrieved June 19, 2024.
  6. ^ Ring, Trudy (May 30, 2023). "Ohio Trans Care Ban Sponsor Caught on Video Backing Conversion Therapy". The Advocate. Retrieved June 19, 2024.
  7. ^ Henry, Megan (November 16, 2023). "Lawmaker behind bill blocking gender-affirming care believes care is 'child abuse'". Ohio Capital Journal. Retrieved June 19, 2024.
  8. ^ Henry, Megan (May 25, 2023). "More than 200 people submit opponent testimony against bill to limit health care for LGBTQ youth". Ohio Capital Journal. Retrieved June 19, 2024.
  9. ^ Alfonseca, Kiara (January 24, 2024). "Ohio Senate overrides governor veto of trans care, sports ban HB 68". ABC News. Retrieved June 19, 2024.
  10. ^ "Ohio judge blocks ban on gender-affirming care for minors". The Hill. April 16, 2024. Retrieved April 17, 2024.
  11. ^ "Judge upholds Ohio's gender-affirming care ban; civil rights group vows immediate appeal". ABC News. August 6, 2024. Retrieved August 7, 2024.
  12. ^ Reed, Erin (January 29, 2024). "Ohio, Michigan Republicans in released audio: 'Endgame' is to ban trans care 'for everyone'". The Advocate. Retrieved January 31, 2024.
  13. ^ Heywood, Todd (January 30, 2024). "In-depth: Michigan lawmakers discuss gender-affirming care ban". Yahoo!. Retrieved January 31, 2024.
  14. ^ Washington, Julie (October 11, 2024). "Ohioans overwhelmingly oppose transgender rights protections, BW poll finds". Cleveland. Retrieved October 14, 2024.
  15. ^ "Election Results". Ohio Secretary of State. Retrieved April 30, 2021.
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