ACLU plans lawsuit to block transgender health care ban

(The Center Square) – The ACLU of Ohio announced Monday it plans to file a lawsuit challenging the state’s ban on gender-affirming care for minors that will go in place in late April following the General Assembly’s vote to override the veto of Republican Gov. Mike DeWine. The Republican-majority Senate easily voted Wednesday, 23-9, to override the veto. The chamber needed only 20 votes to make the health care ban and create single-sex sports teams in the state law. Needing only 59 votes, the Republican-majority House voted 65-28 on Jan. 10 to override the veto of House Bill 68. Without a judicial ruling to stop it, it becomes law April 23. HB68 blocks gender-affirming care for minors, including surgeries, puberty blockers, and hormone therapy. “We are preparing litigation to defend transgender youth and their constitutional right to receive medically necessary health care,” said Freda Levenson, legal director at the ACLU of Ohio. “The use of gender-affirming hormone therapy to treat transgender minors is supported by every major medical association in our country. Transgender youth, together with their doctors and parents, should have access to evidence-based medical care just like anyone else. Families should be able to make these private, personal...