Ohio approves ban on gender-affirming care for minors despite governor’s veto

Despite a veto from Gov. Mike DeWine, Ohio’s Republican-dominated Senate voted to ban gender-affirming care for minors and bar transgender women and girls from competing on female sports teams. In a 24-8 Senate vote, the law passed banning gender-affirming surgeries and hormone therapies and restricting mental health care for transgender patients under 18.

The law also bars transgender girls and women from joining girl’s and women’s sports teams from K-12 and collegiate levels. Falling in line with at least 20 other states preventing transgender people from participating in sports, though many are facing legal challenges.

The law is expected to go into effect in 90 day. One Republican, Sen. Nathan Manning, voted against the measure. Meanwhile, while on the Senate floor Republican Sen. Kristina Roegner falsely claimed that there was no such thing as gender-affirming care, calling it a “fools errand.”

🚨BREAKING: The Ohio House just voted to override Gov. DeWine’s veto of HB 68, a bill banning gender-affirming care for trans youth.

This state-sponsored vendetta against some of Ohio’s most vulnerable young people is beyond cruel. We stand in solidarity with all trans youth. pic.twitter.com/83KRd8ypit

— ACLU of Ohio (@acluohio) January 10, 2024

Gov. DeWine vetoed the measure, citing government overreach.

“Ohio would be saying that the government knows better what is medically best for a child than the two people who love that child the most: the parents,” DeWine said.

Though, Gov. DeWine did sign an executive order in early January only banning gender-affirming surgeries for minors, while medical professionals have insisted those surgeries aren’t happening in the state.

The first law of its kind banning gender-affirming care in Arkansas has been struck down by a federal judge who ruled that such a ban would violate the due process rights of transgender youth and their families.