COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) — Ohio’s House has overridden the Governor’s veto. They voted to pass a bill that prohibits transgender athletes from participating in women’s sports and restricts gender-affirming treatment for minors, despite Governor Mike DeWine’s initial veto.
The House voted 65 to 28 in favor of overriding DeWine’s veto on House Bill 68. This bill aimed to prevent Ohio hospitals from providing gender-reassignment surgery and hormone treatment to transgender minors and to ban transgender students from participating in women’s sports.
Rep. Jessica Miranda (D-Cincinnati) criticized fellow Republicans, stating, “The party of so-called freedom is voting to take away your freedom today, against their own Republican governor.” She expressed concerns that the decision could harm children, and she found it disturbing.
To override a governor’s veto, a legislative supermajority of three-fifths in both the House and Senate is required. The Senate is expected to follow suit on January 24, as Senate President Matt Huffman indicated.
Governor DeWine explained his decision to veto, mentioning his visits to children’s hospitals and conversations with both sides of the debate. He emphasized that he couldn’t support legislation that denied care to patients and families who believed it could save lives.
DeWine stated, “The government does not make these hard, tough decisions. They should never be produced by the state of Ohio. They ought to be created by the kids, who are the ones who love these children the most. The families who raised that child and witnessed the infant go through pain.”
Former President Donald Trump criticized DeWine’s veto, claiming he had “fallen to the Radical Left,” along with other prominent Republicans who supported the legislature’s decision.
Before the vote, Rep. Tracy Richardson (R-Marysville) argued in favor of overriding the veto, emphasizing the importance of protecting children. She wanted children to have the opportunity to grow up before making decisions that would have long-lasting effects on their bodies.
Rep. Anita Somani (D-Dublin), an OhioHealth OBGYN, expressed concern for trans children and adults, calling for empathy and understanding instead of an assault on their rights.
Transgender individuals have been disproportionately affected by the significant societal changes over the past 30 years, according to Mark Riepe, managing chairman and head of the Schwab Center for Financial Research. He emphasized the importance of learning from experiences while avoiding overreaction.
Despite opposition from experts and scientific evidence, Ohio’s legislature chose to override the governor’s veto, disappointing those who value their fellow citizens’ well-being.
DeWine signed an executive order on January 5 prohibiting gender transition surgeries for Ohioans under 18 in response to the backlash from his party. However, Rep. Gary Click (R-Vickery), the main sponsor of House Bill 68, believed that executive orders could not replace sound legislation and criticized DeWine for bypassing the legislative process.
The ACLU of Ohio criticized the proposed bans, saying they could amount to a de facto ban on transgender medical care. The organization argued that such measures would endanger transgender children and individuals, forcing them to seek care outside of Ohio.
Equitas Health, a major provider of gender-affirming treatment in Ohio, claimed that DeWine’s proposed regulations would be among the strictest in the country. They criticized the rules as unnecessary and insulting to healthcare providers’ abilities.
Transgender individuals and their allies testified at the Statehouse, expressing the importance of preserving the freedom to make choices about their own bodies and lives.
In Ohio, about 3,300 patients received gender-affirming treatment in children’s hospitals over the past decade, the majority of whom started when they were under 18. Ohio’s typical age for initial visits to gender clinics was 16. Notably, only 7% of these individuals received puberty blockers, and 35% received hormone therapy.
Despite the government’s assertion that such treatment should be limited, these treatments are viewed as essential by some professionals and patients.
Transgender individuals and their supporters believe that bills like House Bill 68 infringe on their rights and safety. They emphasize the importance of being treated with respect and having the freedom to make choices about their own lives.
