After vetoing a policy on Friday that would have prohibited gender-affirming treatment for adolescents and transgender athletes’ involvement in school activities, Ohio Governor Mike DeWine is receiving criticism from other Republicans.
Republican DeWine vetoed House Bill 68, which the State Legislature had approved and arrived at his office on December 18. Republicans also hold enough seats to override the veto should they reconsider the legislation and vote in lockstep, so the bill, which Republican Representative Gary Click sponsored, is not entirely doomed.
In a speech to Newsweek from DeWine’s office, the governor cited conversations with Click and other lawmakers, doctors and counselors who treat patients at five state hospitals who support pausing for care until more research is available, and young people and their parents who have personally experienced both positive and negative experiences with this care as justification for his final choice.
DeWine stated during a press conference on Friday that if he signed House Bill 68 or had it become law, Ohio may be saying that the state, the government, and not the two people who love their children the most biologically.
On November 4, 2022, in Moraine, Ohio, the governor of Ohio Mike DeWine makes a speech at the Mandalay function center. DeWine vetoed a Republican anti-trans bill on December 29 that would have affected school sports and gender-affirming treatment.
DeWine added that while it is uncommon for states to override parents’ medical decisions, he was unable to come up with instances where the choice went against not only the parents but also the opinions of doctors and medical professionals.
DeWine stated in his speech, “It is crucial that we all keep in mind that everyone on both sides of this debate genuinely believes that their position best protects children.” “These are genuinely difficult problems, and sane people can come to very different conclusions.
This act may only have an effect on a very tiny percentage of Ohioan children. The effects of this act, however, could not be more severe for the families of children who suffer from gender distress. In the end, I think this is about preserving human life.
He continued, “Parents have told DeWine that their children may not still be alive if they did not receive health care, and he received related remarks from individuals who faced similar situations.”
Those who have pushed against gender-affirming maintenance and allowing transgender people to compete in school sports mocked the veto.
J. D. Vance, an Ohio senator who has previously praised DeWine as a good man, expressed his disappointment with the governor’s choice and expressed hope that it will be overturned on X (previously Twitter).
Regarding DeWine’s comments at the press event, Vance remarked, “This is a slogan, not an explanation.” The law legitimately prohibits countless things from being done to children, including by children. This slogan even disregards the extreme pressure placed on big pharma and interest groups to approve ill thought-out, irreversible procedures.
DeWine was referred to as “a spineless coward that needs to be removed from office” by Riley Gaines, a former competitive swimmer who has emerged as an outspoken voice against such issues.
“A weak-kneeled RINO piece of trash named DeWine,” another conservative on X with a sizable following, said conservatives shouldn’t be surprised that he vetoed them.
Regarding the criticism of the veto, DeWine’s office did not respond to Newsweek.
Zee Cohen-Sanchez, the founder and executive chairman of Sole Strategies, a Democratic strategist, told Newsweek over the phone that DeWine’s critics are pushing their own values, which are frequently rooted in Christianity, when trans rights ought to be connected to universal healthcare.
Cohen-Sanchez said, “We may have a separation of church and state in this country, that’s what we’re founded upon.” “The truth is that HB 68 is a bill that is actually anti-healthcare. We may mince words all we want, but in the end, trans care must be included if you believe in one’s right to healthcare.”
She acknowledged that the range of trans people competing in school athletics is more complex. She referred to trans healthcare as being more “black and white,” whereas the issue of athletics should be more dependent on various age groups and levels, such as youth sports and the Olympics.
She continued by saying that Republicans who support trans-related issues should also support greater investment in women’s sports, including paying professional athletes more.
“Republicans should be discussing issues that affect the majority of the people, not transgender children who need to use the restroom, if they want to win [elections],” she said. “You must keep in mind that the rate of suicide and mental health among trans children is extremely high. It’s bullying a minority of people, in my opinion.”
