Ohio governor rejects bill banning gender-affirming care for trans youth

By: Felicia Jordan COLUMBUS, Ohio — Friday morning, Governor Mike DeWine vetoed House Bill 68, otherwise known as the SAFE Act, which would have banned gender-affirming care in Ohio, including hormone blockers, hormone replacement therapy (HRT), medical or surgical procedures and some mental health services. The bill also would have prevented anyone not born female from participating in girls’ sports in Ohio. The bill passed in the House and Senate with all 62 House Republicans and 24 out of 25 Senate Republicans voting in favor. DeWine said he consulted with those both for and against the bill, including physicians at five of Ohio’s children’s hospitals, parents of children who have transitioned, counselors, and people who are in favor of pausing access to gender-affirming care. In the end, he said he felt he could do nothing but veto the bill. “Parents have looked me in the eye and have told me that but for this treatment, their child would be dead,” said DeWine. He said he acknowledges that people on both sides of the issue sincerely believe their position is what’s best to protect children in Ohio, but that it’s a complex issue overall. Still, as it’s currently written, DeWine said...