Particularly when it comes to politics, doing the right thing is not always the easiest thing to do.
Ohio Governor Mike DeWine has now received visits from fellow Ohio Republicans, who are being demonized and referred to as a child mutilator by ignorant, callous, and/or cruel members of the public.
That does not alter the reality.
By vetoing House Bill 68, an evil piece of anti-child policy, DeWine did the right thing and once more showed that his heart is with Ohio’s children.
The bill would have prohibited transgender girls from participating in female sports at K–12 schools and colleges (a smokescreen) and severely curtailed gender-affirming services for transgendered minors (an inhumane overstep).
DeWine’s veto still has the potential to be overturned.
However, the state government does not currently formally endorse laws that directly harm children who are already at risk.
Before vetoing risky House Bill 68, DeWine did his research.
DeWine must cooperate with Democratic lawmakers and ultra-conservative colleagues, some of whom may harbor resentment toward this veto, during his term in office until 2027.
Going against members of his own party — the GOP-dominated General Assembly pushed through the bill a little more than 10 days before – took extraordinary courage even though he is unable to run for reelection due to term limits.
Unfortunately, sometimes it also helps to see the humanity of individuals and to conduct research.
Stonewall Columbus, an LGBTQ+ rights organization, said in a statement, “We applaud the governor for his decision, which reflected thoughtful consideration of diverse opinions, especially those of parents and care professionals.” “House Bill 68 proposed restrictions on important gender-affirming treatment, an essential service that is frequently lifesaving for trans people.”
An appeal to Mike DeWine: My brother was about to commit suicide. Save transgender kids by using your influence.
Fortunately, DeWine did just that, claiming at a press conference that he had spoken with experts and those who had an immediate impact on the contentious conversation.
DeWine said many of the families he spoke to said their children—adolescent and adult—would be dead if not for the treatment, which includes intensive counseling. He said providing gender-affirming treatment is a gut-wrenching decision.
According to the governor, the veto was intended to save lives. And so it is.
He claimed that young people who have transitioned genders have told me they are thriving now as a result of that change.
More: Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine vetoes House Bill 68 on transgender sports and health care.
That is a significant point. The distress that transgender individuals experience can be severe.
In a study from 2020, “suicidality is highest among transgender youth,” with 82% considering suicide and 40% making an attempt.
When DeWine implemented mask mandates and unhappy closures during the COVID crisis, he even considered the advice of experts. He spoke with representatives from children’s hospitals in Columbus, Akron, and Cincinnati.
The governor deserves praise for standing up for a small but condemned group of Ohio children and their parents, who are much more familiar with and devoted to them than any legislator has ever been.
Ohio may be saying that the state and the authorities know better what is clinically ideal for a child if I were to sign House Bill 68 or had it become law, according to the governor.
Anyone who has been following DeWine’s governorship should not be surprised by his decision.
DeWine implements plans that he believes will enhance the lives of Ohio’s children, whether I agree with him or not— I occasionally do not.
That is admirable, especially in light of House Bill 68.
Attacks against trans children are vicious and intended to instill fear.
If the bill were to become law, the effects on transgender children would be disastrous.
Legislators have subjected these kids to severe abuse that has been designed to instill anxiety.
The trans issues that have dominated Statehouse discussion for years only affect a small portion of Ohioans, as DeWine noted at the media event.
When it comes to transgender student athletes, this is especially true.
Mike DeWine, pay attention to the Christian Republican dad who is anti-woke and vetoes nasty legislation.
In the last eight years, only 19 trans women have participated in high school or middle school gymnastics, according to the Ohio High School Athletic Association. According to an NBC 4 report, that includes six transgender high school student-athletes for the 2022–2023 academic year.
About 400,000 OHSAA student-athletes are present.
When he vetoed House Bill 68, Mike DeWine supported Ohio’s kids. The lies were untrue in his eyes. He conducted the investigation and discovered the truth.
Others ought to follow suit.
Amelia Robinson is The Columbus Dispatch’s Opinion and Community Engagement Editor.
