Ohio’s House of Representatives has announced that they will be cutting short their winter vacation in order to attempt to override Governor Mike DeWine’s veto of a law that would have banned so-called “gender-affirming” care of children and allowed biological males to participate in female sports.
The veto, which was issued on Friday, comes after Ohio’s Senate and House passed the bill, known as House Bill 68, which aimed to prevent children from being encouraged to identify as a different gender and receiving hormone treatments under the guise of mental health services.
DeWine’s veto has caused outrage among supporters of the bill, who argue that it was a common-sense piece of legislation that would have protected children from being subjected to dangerous and irreversible procedures. The bill, which would require 60 votes to override the veto, had a majority of Republican support in the House, with 67 representatives in favor. However, with only 32 Democrats in the House, it remains to be seen if the necessary 60 votes can be reached.
In an attempt to appease those who are pushing for an override of the veto, DeWine issued an executive order on Friday that would prohibit the surgical mutilation of minors. However, many feel that this executive order is not enough, as it does not have the same staying power as a state law. Furthermore, with no clinics in Ohio currently performing genital mutilation, it is uncertain how effective this executive order will be in preventing future cases.
During his veto statement, DeWine stated that the bill would have given the government more control over what is deemed medically best for a child than the child’s own parents. However, opponents of the governor’s decision point to Cincinnati Children’s Hospital, a major donor to DeWine’s campaign, which actively cuts parents out of the decision-making process when it comes to their child’s gender identity.
Despite DeWine’s claim that his executive order will “take this issue off the table”, there are concerns that it may actually pave the way for the very thing it seeks to prevent. The order, which aims to collect data on treatment for transgender individuals and prevent “fly-by-night” clinics, also creates a process for implementing gender-transition procedures, effectively giving them legitimacy.
Critics of the order argue that creating stricter regulations for procedures does not address the bigger issue at hand, which is whether or not children should be allowed to undergo irreversible medical procedures that could harm their physical and mental well-being.
DeWine’s veto has also sparked debate within the medical community, with some healthcare leaders stating that they do not recommend surgical procedures for minors. However, many are questioning why the governor chose to veto the bill in the first place if there is a “broad consensus” against such procedures.
In an attempt to clarify the situation, DeWine has announced that his administration has proposed rules to prevent “fly-by-night” clinics and require comprehensive care plans for transgender adults and children.
With the House expected to vote on an override of the veto on January 10, the fate of the bill remains uncertain. However, many are hopeful that the majority of Republican representatives, along with some Democrats who voted in favor of the bill, will stay true to their word and vote to override the veto.
If successful, this would mark a significant victory for those who believe that it is the responsibility of the government to protect children from being subjected to harmful medical procedures, regardless of what their parents may think is best for them.