Mike DeWine, the governor of Ohio, is advocating for transgender children in his state.
According to CNN, the Republican governor vetoed a bill on December 29 that would have prohibited gender-affirming treatment for trans children. DeWine stated that signing the policy, which was approved by lawmakers just before the holiday break, would have been “saying that the state, the government,” knows what’s better for children than their parents.
Gender-affirming treatment, such as estrogen blockers, hormone replacement therapy, and medical or surgical treatments for transgender and nonbinary children, would have been prohibited under HB 68. Additionally, the bill included trans athletes competing in female sports.
The largest LGBTQ+ advocacy organization in the country, the Human Rights Campaign, praised DeWine’s decision on Twitter, calling it “a huge victory for transgender children and their families in Ohio.”
Laws prohibiting gender-affirming care for children have already been passed in close to 20 different states. According to HRC data, 30% of trans children between the ages of 13 and 17 reside in those states.
DeWine claims to have spoken with people who are transitioning and told him that they are “thriving.” The state’s leader discussed his practice of speaking with families of trans children who claimed that care had saved lives during a press meeting. He said, “Parents have looked me in the eye and told me that their child might have died if not for this care.”
“Those who are now grown adults have also told me that if it weren’t for this care, they would have committed suicide when they were teenagers. In the end, I think it’s about preserving human life.
To enhance the physical and mental health of trans people, gender-affirming treatment is a necessity, according to the American Medical Association. Because of bias and female anxiety, trans children are less likely to experience bouts of anxiety, suicidal thoughts, or suicide attempts, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Care-giving doctors would have been “subject to discipline by the appropriate professional licensing board” if the bill were to pass.
DeWine, however, wants to prevent that from occurring. DeWine stated that these are “gut-wrenching decisions that should be made by the parents and informed by a team of doctors advising them.”
“These are parents who have endured years of watching their child suffer and who genuinely worry that they may not live.”
