DeWine vetoes gender-affirming care ban
On Friday, Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine (R) announced that he vetoed a gender-affirming care ban passed by the Republican-controlled state legislature, a rarity for Republican governors.
On Friday, Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine (R) announced that he vetoed a gender-affirming care ban passed by the Republican-controlled state legislature, a rarity for Republican governors.
In a press conference, DeWine cited the immense impact that banning transgender youth from receiving care would have on a small number of children in Ohio as one of the main reasons for his decision.
“This bill would impact a very small number of Ohio children,” DeWine said. “But, for those children who face gender dysphoria and for their families, the consequences of this bill could not be more profound.”
NEWS: Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine (R) vetoes HB 68, an anti-trans bill passed by the GOP-led legislature:
“…Ohio would be saying that the state, that the government knows better what is medically best for a child than the two people that love that child the most: the parents.” pic.twitter.com/M43XrULNMB
— Heartland Signal (@HeartlandSignal) December 29, 2023
In addition to barring hormone replacement therapy, House Bill 68 would have prohibited hormone blockers, medical procedures and certain mental health services for transgender youth under the age of 18. It also would have banned transgender athletes from the high school and college sports teams of their gender identity.
DeWine said that although he talked to detransitioners and advocates skeptical of gender-affirming care’s benefits, many of the constituents he spoke to would have taken their own lives as minors had they not received this treatment. He argued that the veto was a matter of protecting life.
“Were I to sign House Bill 68, or were House Bill 68 to become law, Ohio would be saying that the state, that the government knows better, what is medically best for a child than the two people that love that child the most: the parents,” DeWine said.
The bill could still become law if 60% of the state legislature voted to override DeWine’s veto.
According to the Human Rights Campaign Foundation, 22 states have passed gender-affirming care bans including Iowa, North Dakota, South Dakota, Nebraska, Missouri, Indiana and Kentucky.
