Ohio Governor Mike DeWine Vetoes Bill Banning “Gender-affirming Care”

Ohio Republican Governor Mike DeWine vetoed House Bill 68 today. If signed into law, the legislation would block “gender-affirming care” for persons under 18 years of age, and would ban athletes from participating in sports not associated with their biological sex.

DeWine stated that he would not sign the bill as written, stating the legislation would infringe on parental rights: “Were I to sign House Bill 68, or were House Bill 68 to become law, 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.”

LGBTQ activist organization Human Rights Campaign praised DeWine for vetoing the Bill in a press release today. HRC President Kelley Robinson thanked DeWine in her statement, saying, “Thank you to Gov. DeWine for listening to the people of his state and making the right decision for young trans Ohioans.”

The Ohio Children’s Hospital Association released a statement after the bill was passed by the Ohio General Assembly; in the statement they requested DeWine veto the legislation: “Sub. HB 68 would have a catastrophic impact on a small but high-risk population of children. We respectfully request Governor DeWine veto this legislation.” When asked if the Ohio Children’s Hospital influenced the decision to veto the bill, DeWine said, “I’m the person responsible for it, the buck stops with me on this.”

Ultimately, “the buck stops” with Ohio General Assembly Republicans, who hold supermajorities in both the Ohio House of Representatives and the Ohio Senate. The General Assembly could override the governor’s veto with a three-fifths vote in the House and Senate.