The Ohio House of Representatives voted last week to override Governor Mike DeWine’s veto of a bill restricting access to gender-affirming care for minors and transgender girls’ participation in school sports.
House Bill 68, named the Saving Adolescents From Experimentation (SAFE) Act, prohibits hormone blockers, hormone replacement therapy and certain mental health services for transgender and nonbinary youth under 18. It also bars transgender athletes from competing on girls’ and women’s sports teams.
Were I to sign House Bill 68 … Ohio would be saying that the state, that the government knows better what is medically best for a child than the two people who love that child the most: their parents
Republican Gov. DeWine
With the House overriding DeWine’s veto by 65-28, the bill now heads to the Senate. In the Senate, where the bill previously passed with 24 votes, 20 are needed to overturn the governor’s veto. If successful, the legislation would take effect 90 days after the final vote. The next Senate session is scheduled for January 24.
Supporters of the bill argue that it safeguards the well-being of women and children. Gary Click, the bill’s primary supporter and a Republican state representative, celebrated the House vote on X, previously known as Twitter.
“It is hard to fathom that we live in a society that would tell children that they need drugs and scalpels to live their authentic lives or that treats women as second-class citizens in their own spaces,” Click wrote.
“These are horrible, harmful and hurtful messages for Ohio’s youth, and it is remarkable that we would even need a law to affirm these common-sense policies,” Click added.
However, certain Republican legislators, such as Rep. Gail Pavliga from Portage County, directed the attention to the sports-related aspects of the legislation, sidestepping the gender-affirming care provisions. Critics like Pavliga argue that the bill ensures fair competition for female athletes.
“Today, I voted to empower parents, protect children, and maintain the integrity of women’s sports in Ohio,” Pavliga said in a press release.
Trans youth healthcare battle
On December 29, Governor DeWine vetoed HB 68, citing concerns for the well-being of transgender youth and their families. He acknowledged the bill’s limited scope but emphasized the potential for “profound consequences” for those experiencing gender dysphoria.
DeWine also recognized the importance of parental autonomy in healthcare decisions but argued against legislative restrictions that could potentially endanger vulnerable children.
“Parents are making decisions about the most precious thing in their life — their child — and none of us should underestimate the gravity and the difficulty of those decisions,” the governor said.
By targeting essential gender-affirming care for minors, HB 68 goes against the recommendations of every major medical organization in the United States, including Ohio’s Children’s Hospital Association and the Ohio Academy of Family Physicians. The bill’s blanket restrictions could impede necessary healthcare for transgender youth despite no surgeries being performed under 18 in Ohio children’s hospitals.
The American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) of Ohio also disapproved of the House’s override of Governor DeWine’s veto of HB 68.
“We are extremely disappointed that the Ohio House continued their crusade against transgender youth and their families by returning early for an emergency session to override the Governor’s veto on HB 68,” the organization wrote in a joint statement with the national ACLU.
“This measure may force families to leave the state, disrupting communities and other deep ties to Ohio’s history and economy,” the organization added.
The year 2023 saw a surge in anti-LGBTQ bills targeting gender-affirming care and sports participation, primarily pushed by GOP-led legislatures. While some Democratic-led states enact protective measures, others like Ohio witness governors’ vetoes overridden by Republican majorities.
If the Ohio Senate follows suit and upholds the House vote, Ohio will join North Carolina and Louisiana in enacting such restrictions despite gubernatorial opposition.
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