COLUMBUS, Ohio –
Ohio has restricted transgender women’s and girls’ participation in sports teams and outlawed gender-affirming care for minors, a move that has left parents of transgender children unsure of how best to take care of them.
Wednesday’s vote to override GOP Governor Mike DeWine’s disapproval was overwhelmingly Republican in the Senate. The new legislation restricts mental health care for transgender people under 18 and outlaws gender-affirming procedures and hormone treatment. Additionally, the law prohibits transgender women from participating in women’s and children’s sports teams at both the K–12 and collegiate levels.
With the exception of Sen. Nathan Manning, a Republican from Cuyahoga County who has frequently strayed from his party on the matter, the override passed the chamber 24–8.
The legislation is anticipated to go into effect in about 90 days, according to officials. Earlier this month, the Republican-majority House had voted to override the veto.
The Chagrin Falls actress, Kat Scaglione, is devastated but unsurprised by the new laws because two of her three children are transgender. According to the bill’s grandfather clause, her 14-year-old child Amity is now receiving mental health services and some medication. However, she would be unable to continue receiving treatment, such as hormone therapies, and would need to travel outside of the state to advance in her gender-affirming care.
Even though Amity and her trans daughter, Lexi, are currently living in a safer neighborhood and school district, Scaglione and Matt are considering moving their entire family out of state. In Ohio, they don’t feel welcome, and that isn’t going to change any time soon.
“Even though we’ve settled in and are enjoying ourselves right now,” Scaglione said, “we’re constantly looking back and waiting for something to shift to the point where we have to leave now.” “It’s been difficult to move there and try to make it home when you constantly feel like you might have to run away.”
To the dismay of his party, DeWine reiterated on Wednesday that he had vetoed the policy to shield parents and children from government overreach on health decisions. However, on January 1st, he signed an executive order forbidding gender-affirming procedures for those under 18, despite the fact that medical professionals claim that such procedures aren’t taking place in the state.
Democrats and LGBTQ2S+ supporters who were once enthusiastic about his veto have harshly criticized him for proposing operational rules that apply to adults as well as transgender children.
Republican Sen. Kristina Roegner, a resident of Summit County, falsely claimed on the Senate floor that there is no such thing as gender-affirming or female band care and referred to such treatment as a “fool’s task.”
Her remarks drew the jeers and vociferous demonstrations of LGBTQ2S+ supporters, who were all closely observed by Statehouse security.
One activist was led out of the Senate chamber while singing that Jesus loves transgender children.
Numerous states that have passed legislation restricting or outlawing gender-affirming health care for transgender minors are currently the subject of lawsuits. Courts have made conflicting decisions. A federal judge in Arkansas overturned the country’s first laws, ruling that the treatment ban violated transgender youth and their families’ right to due process.
The treatment has been offered in the US for more than ten years and is supported by major health organizations.
A request from the Biden administration to stop such outright restrictions is expected to be finalized this year after numerous delays and significant opposition. At least 20 states have approved some form of allowing transgender athletes to play on K–12 and collegiate sports teams overall. According to the proposed concept, Title IX, the historic gender-equality legislation passed in 1972, may be violated by blanket bans.
Democratic senator from Cleveland, Senate Minority Leader Nickie J. Antonio, referred to the measure as “bullying” and said that the government should focus on more important issues like mental health and substance use disorders rather than those that isolate transgender youth and restrict parental rights. She claimed that although the proponents are worn out, they are still capable of fighting back.
Antonio, who is a member of the LGBTQ2S+ community herself, said, “I hope that this is the last time, during this legislative session, that we are working to take away the rights of citizens from the gay community.”
To protect trans residents and their families, Equality Ohio, a regional LGBTQ2S+ advocacy organization, may be looking into all available legal and legislative options, according to Maria Bruno, public policy director.
She remarked, “It is truly shameful to see partisan politics trumping the natural, just, and compassionate outcome.”
Samantha Hendrickson, employed by the Associated Press/Report for America Statehouse News Initiative, is a corps member. Report for America is a nonprofit national service program that places journalists in local newspapers to cover underreported news stories.
