Mike DeWine, the governor of Ohio, vetoed a bill by other Republicans on Friday that would have prohibited trans athletes from participating in female and women’s sports and gender-confirming care for minors in the state.
Pro-LGBT+ activists largely praised the unexpected action, which DeWine described as “ultimately about protecting individual life,” though the governor said he still intended to take executive action to implement some of the bill’s provisions.
At a press event on Friday night, DeWine announced the veto, saying he had listened to those on both sides of the issue who thought their position best protected children.
“Ohio may be saying that the state, and not the two people who love a kid the most—the parents—know what is best biologically for that child if I signed,” he claimed.
“Some parents have told me that if they had never received the care they received from an Ohio children’s hospital, their child might be useless now.” “Those who are presently adults have even told me that without this treatment, they may have committed suicide when they were teenagers.”
The legislation, according to DeWine, “is not in the best interests of Ohioans.” It was not immediately apparent whether or when Republicans would try to override the veto, but they do have enough of a majority in the state government to do so.
The ACLU of Ohio tweeted, “Bless you, Mike DeWine.” “Home is in Ohio. Protect transgender youth.” It was “a big win for transgender children and their families in Ohio,” according to the Human Rights Campaign.
According to the Associated Press, more than 20 Republican-controlled legislatures across the country have passed restrictions or outright prohibitions on gender-affirming care for transgender children since 2021, breaking with tradition with DeWine’s veto.
Numerous legal problems have arisen in relation to many of the actions, with an increasing number of judges enforcing laws passed by conservative states.
According to the bill that passed with single Republican support, minors in Ohio would have been prohibited from taking puberty blockers, undergoing other hormone therapies, or having gender-confirmation surgery to further align them with their gender identities. Treatment for those who were already receiving it would have been permitted to continue.
Numerous doctors and mental health professionals, as well as the parents of transgender children and young people, testified against the bill, calling it “cruel.”
DeWine stated that despite the veto, he would take operational steps to address some act measures and “have a better chance of surviving judicial review and being adopted.”
According to him, he may ask “relevant agencies” to report to the legislature information about minors and adults seeking gender-confirmation healthcare, and his administration will prevent “pop-up clinics or fly-by-night operations” in order to ensure that families receive “adequate counseling” over gender-confirmation care. He also stated that state agencies were being instructed to forbid gender confirmation surgery for people under the age of 18.
DeWine stated, “I strongly concur with the general assembly that no operation of this kind should ever be performed on those under the age of 18.”
Numerous Republican-controlled states have passed legislation banning transgender athletes from participating in women’s and girls’ sports at the high school and college levels, much like they have done with regard to gender equality in healthcare. High school students in Florida last month staged a demonstration in support of staff suspensions for allowing trans tennis players to participate.
Next year, the Biden administration hopes to formally introduce a Title IX regulations plan that would essentially repeal state restrictions on transgender athletes.
This report was written by the Associated Press.
