If the so-called “Saving Adolescents from Experimentation (SAFE) Act” is passed, young Ohioans will be subjected to an outdated, ignorant, and dangerous agenda.
Although the name may seem well-intentioned, House Bill 68 is a component of the storm of anti-trans legislation that has engulfed our country.
The act was lately vetoed by Gov. after being approved by both the Ohio House of Representatives and Ohio Senate. DeWine, Mike
In order to cast a vote to override the veto, state lawmakers are anticipated to return to Columbus first. In actuality, the Ohio House intends to vote on Wednesday, January 10.
House Bill 68: Why Is It So Bad?
There are many reasons why this piece of legislation is risky.
It has a wide-ranging impact, restricting what the legal actions of the courts, medical providers, mental health professionals, and athletic teams can take with regard to the care and inclusion of trans youngsters.
Prepare yourself, Ohio. GOP lawmakers are prepared to humiliate you once more by attacking transgender children.
Before gender-affirming treatment, my son was on the cusp of suicide. It was a matter of life and death.
The courts may no longer be able to take into account factors like whether the parent “refers to and raises the child in a manner consistent with their natural sex,” whether they decline to consent to ensuring that their child receives gender-affirming care, and whether their parent declines to approve of the mental health care they provide to address gender dysphoria.
Because it fails to protect trans children from hatred within their own families, this part of the bill is extremely harmful to them.
Less than one in three transgender and intersex children live in gender-affirming homes, according to The Trevor Project.
The courts would be forced to make judicial decisions if the bill were to pass and a parent refused to accept their trans child’s identity, endangering yet more trans youth.
House Bill 68 may forbid medical professionals from giving minors access to puberty-blocking medications, gender-affirming surgery on them, and other types of care.
Gender affirming treatment is a matter of life or death for transgender children
Gender dysphoria could no longer be diagnosed or treated by mental health professionals without going through unnecessary hassles. The act establishes penalties for violating these conditions.
Even worse, the language of the bill compares gender dysphoria to psychopathy, highlighting the prejudices present in House Bill 68.
A person is more likely to attempt suicide if gender dysphoria is left untreated for a longer period of time.
According to the Trevor Project, almost one in five trans children have attempted to end their lives. The state government may be contributing to the rising rates of suicide among transgender kids by denying Ohio’s trans youngsters the right to access gender-affirming care.
Trans athletes have been used as scapegoats
Lastly, House Bill 68 may forbid trans women from participating in collegiate sports on teams that reflect their gender identity.
Additionally, teams may be formed based on a person’s birth sex. This is an obvious example of how to solve a problem that doesn’t exist.
In Ohio’s high school athletics, there are only six trans women competing, and even fewer in collegiate sports.
Additionally, trans athletes’ testosterone levels are monitored as part of sports policy, and the NCAA now mandates that they undergo hormone therapy for at least a year. Forcing an athlete to identify with the gender they were assigned at birth denies the very existence of trans people and only serves to increase the pain and discrimination they already experience so frequently.
Solutions to problems that don’t exist
None of the problems our society faces are solved by passing legislation that continues to harm LGBTQ+ people.
Rather, it fuels the culture wars that plague our state and country.
More: “This is about preserving human lives.” “Why DeWine vetoed the anti-trans athlete, medical care bill”
House Bill 68 faced criticism from Ohio students, families, health specialists, advocacy groups, religious leaders, and others as it advanced through the legislative process.
A group that claims to support families’ rights is pushing House Bill 68, which is a flagrant overreach of the government’s responsibilities.
“These difficult decisions shouldn’t be made by the government,” said DeWine.
I implore the readers to take action against this cruel act as a vote may be getting closer every day. Contact your state senators and representatives to request a “no” vote on overriding the governor’s veto of House Bill 68.
At Kent State University, Zachary Graves is a student majoring in social science.
