Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine vetoed a bill that would have barred physicians from prescribing gender-affirming “health care” for minors.
Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine vetoed House Bill 68, which would have barred physicians from performing “gender reassignment surgery” or prescribing “cross-sex hormones” to minors. It would have also banned schools from knowingly permitting transgender-identified male students to play on girl’s and women’s sports teams.
In a press conference held Friday, Gov. DeWine explained his reasons for the decision, citing his many conversations with families whose children had undergone “gender-affirming care.” Some parents, he said, feared that “but for this treatment, their child would be dead … these are gut-wrenching decisions that should be made by parents.”
The governor later clarified that he would pursue legislation banning transgender surgeries for minors, but that “the rest of the care,” including hormone injections should be available to children.
