Ohio Republicans successfully passed a bill banning transgender hormone treatments and procedures for children, along with prohibiting boys and men from competing in girls’ and women’s athletic competitions.
The bill, made up of two acts, aims to prevent transgender procedures on minors and restrict males from participating in female sports from K-12 to college level.
Governor Mike DeWine initially vetoed the bill, citing concerns about parental rights and preserving life, but the veto was overridden.
Gov. DeWine said, “Ohio would be saying that the state, that the government, knows better what is medically best for a child than the two people who love that child the most, the parents.”
“Ultimately, I believe this is about protecting human life,” he continued.
“Many parents have told me that their child would not have survived, would be dead today, if they had not received the treatment they received from one of Ohio’s children’s hospitals. I’ve also been told by those who are now grown adults that but for this care, they would have taken their life when they were teenagers,”
While many Republicans support the ban on irreversible procedures for children, some, like former New Jersey Governor Chris Christie, argue that these decisions should be left to parents.
Christie said, “I don’t think that the government should ever be stepping into the place of the parents in helping to move their children through a process where those children are confused or concerned about their gender.”
“The parents are the people who are best positioned to make these judgments,” he continued.
“What I’d like to make sure each state does is require that parents be involved in these decisions,” explained the former governor.
“Folks who are under the age of 18 should have parental support and guidance and love as they make all of the key decisions of their life, and this should not be one that’s excluded by the government in any way,” Christie concluded.
The law is expected to take effect in about three months.
Read Also:
Iconic Food Chain Closes Due To Crime In Blue State
Donald Trump Jr. Weighs In On VP Pick
