DeWine vetoes bill limiting transgender procedures for minors for Ohio
Gabrielle M. Etzel
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Ohio Gov. Mike Dewine (R) vetoed a controversial bill that would have blocked gender transition treatments for minors with gender dysphoria and require transgender athletes in schools to play on the team of their biological sex.
The Saving Ohio Adolescents from Experimentation, or SAFE Act, was passed with a 70% majority in the state House and a 75% majority in the state Senate. This signals that conservatives in the legislature may be able to override the governor’s veto.
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DeWine said that “action is necessary” on a variety of issues in the bill, but he cannot sign it as written.
The bill declared that the “state has a compelling government interest” in the health and safety of all citizens, especially children.
Although the bill prohibits the use of puberty blockers, cross sex hormones, and invasive surgeries to treat gender dysphoria in minors, the law would have required mental health care providers to evaluate patients for comorbidities, including past trauma and abuse, depression, and autism spectrum disorder.
DeWine said he took several days to listen to medical experts and patients on both sides of the issue, including youth and parents of children who have transitioned and those who have de-transitioned after going through treatment.
“These are truly complex issues, and reasonable people can draw vastly different conclusions,” said DeWine.
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DeWine said that transgender youth are a very small portion of the general population and that they are “horribly, horribly difficult situations” for families.
“Parents are making decisions about the most precious thing in their life: their child,” said DeWine. “These are gut wrenching decisions that should be made by parents and should be informed by teams of doctors who are advising them.”
This is a developing story.