- Republicans have enough seats to override DeWine’s veto.
- Many critics testified against Ohio’s complex policy.
- They criticized the law as being cruel and endangering the lives of transgender children.
Republican Governor Mike DeWine of Ohio vetoed a bill on Friday that would have prohibited transgender athletes from participating in women’s sports and prohibited gender-affirming healthcare for children.
DeWine’s veto could be overridden by GOP officials, but it is unclear whether or when they would do so.
The bill’s effects are tremendous and cannot be overstated. DeWine stated at a news conference on Friday that, in the end, “this is about protecting people’s lives.”
“Some parents have told me that their child would not have survived and would still be dead now if one of Ohio’s pediatric hospitals had not provided them with the care they did.”
When Ohio’s complex legislation was being considered by the government, thousands of opponents, including medical and mental health professionals and educators, testified against it.
Faith leaders, transgender families, and trans people themselves are among the opponents.
They criticized the policy as cruel, based on fearmongering more than science, and posing a threat to transgender children.
Ohio minors would not have been allowed to take puberty blockers, receive hormone therapies, or have gender reassignment surgery that would further align them with their gender identity under the legislation, which the government passed earlier this month with just Republican support.
However, it would have permitted any minor resident of Ohio to continue with the care they are already receiving.
DeWine’s veto deviates from a general tendency toward enacting such laws. Despite the fact that these procedures have been available in the United States for more than ten years and have long been supported by significant medical associations, over 20 states have passed laws restricting or outlawing them since 2021.
Although courts have made conflicting decisions, the majority of those cases are the targets of lawsuits.
Additionally, the bill would have explicitly prohibited transgender girls and women from participating in sports that were consistent with their gender identity and mandated that public K–12 schools and universities designate separate teams for the genders.
Supporters argued that prohibiting transgender athletes from participating in girls’ and women’s sports upholds their fairness and integrity.
Some form of restrictions on transgender athletes competing on K–12 and collegiate sports teams has been passed by at least 20 states. A rule put forth by President Joe Biden’s administration that is scheduled to be finalized early next year would invalidate those bans.
