‘A huge chasm;’ Ohio governor reviewing content on youth transgender health care, sports involvement

OHIO — A bill that would impact the everyday lives of LGBTQ+ youth in Ohio is now sitting in the hands of Ohio Governor Mike DeWine.

>>PREVOUS COVERAGE: Bill banning Ohio trans youth from gender-affirming care, female sports sent to governor

House Bill 68 passed in the House of Representatives on June 21 and in the Senate two days ago, on Dec. 13.

At 6 p.m. News Center 7′s Mike Campbell asked DeWine if he might veto the bill because it isn’t focused on one specific thing.

The bill covers two acts titled: “Save Adolescents from Experimentation Act” and the “Save Women’s Sports Act.”

“Everyone wants what is best for children, but we’ve got a huge chasm here…As far as a disagreement,” DeWine said.

“Save Adolescents from Experimentation Act” would prevent minors from receiving gender reassignment surgery that aligns with their gender identity.

With the governor’s signature, minors could no longer take puberty-blocking drugs and hormone therapies to help with gender transition. Minors in Ohio would have to wait until they turn 18 to transition.

“Save Women’s Sports Act” would require schools to designate separate single-sex teams and sports for males and females.

Its focus is to prevent transgender girls from taking part in girls’ and women’s sports.

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DeWine believes that gender-affirming care is the issue that impacts most Ohioans right now.

“Doesn’t mean the other one is not important but yes, they were two different bills that were shoved together at the last minute, so that’s what we have,” DeWine said.

Lawmakers in support of the bill believe they are protecting young people from mutilating their bodies with a decision that they may later want or choose to reverse.

On the other hand, opposing lawmakers and LGBTQ+ groups call the bill a discriminatory plan that puts lawmakers in front of parents as decision-makers.

DeWine said he plans to part of this weekend and time during the early part of next week reviewing everything, then making his decision to sign or veto this bill.

“We had a lot of testimony in front of committees, I want to take a look at that, I’ve got some calls with experts in this area,” DeWine said.

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