Republican governor In a break from his party members who supported the legislation, Mike DeWine vetoed legislation on Friday that would have prohibited gender-affirming care for minors and transgender athletes’ participation in girls’ and women’s sports. DeWine’s veto could be overridden by GOP lawmakers, but it wasn’t immediately clear if or when they would do so. Republican lawmakers haven’t been huddled together this year, both inside and outside of chambers. DeWine stated in a presser on Friday that he had listened to lawmakers on both sides of the issue who “really believe their position best protects children.” The effects of this act could not be more serious, he discovered, “but for those kids who face gender dysphoria and for their families.” The bill would only have an impact on a small percentage of Ohio kids.
He declared, announcing his determination to veto the legislation, “Ultimately, I believe this is about protecting human life.” “While there are a few instances in the law where the state overturns the parents’ medical decisions, I can’t think of any instances where this is done where it goes against not only the parents’ decision but also the treating doctors’ and medical teams’ judgments.” I am therefore unable to sign this bill as it is currently written. DeWine did, however, state that he thought there were operational steps that could address the bill’s key issues. As part of gender-affirming care, he is, for instance, ordering organizations to forbid surgery on children under the age of 18, noting that “it is a fallacy out there that this goes straight to surgery.”
DeWine added that his administration will create guidelines and limitations to stop “pop-up clinics or fly-by-night operations” so that families can get “adequate counseling” regarding gender-affirming care. When Ohio’s varied measure was being voted on by the government, thousands of critics testified against it, including medical and mental health professionals, educators, religious leaders, families of transgender children, and even trans people themselves. They criticized the legislation as being callous, endangering transgender youth’s quality of life, and based more on fearmongering than on science. Ohio minors would not have been allowed to take puberty blockers, receive other hormone treatments, or have gender reassignment surgery that would further align them with their gender identity under the legislation, which passed the Senate earlier this month with only Republican support.
But, it would have permitted any minor who resides in Ohio to keep receiving treatment. Additionally, the bill would have 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 male and female athletes. Supporters argued that prohibiting trans athletes from participating in girls’ and women’s sports upholds the fairness and integrity of those activities. DeWine’s veto deviates from a general trend toward enacting such rules. Despite the fact that these therapies have been available in the US for more than ten years and have long received the support of major medical associations, over 20 states have passed legislation restricting or outlawing them since 2021. Trans athletes who compete on K–12 and collegiate sports teams across the state have been prohibited by at least 20 states.
