Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine
A measure banning gender-affirming health care for transgender minors and banning trans women from participating in school sports will go into effect in Ohio after the state’s senate voted today (Wednesday, Jan. 24) to override Republican Gov. Mike DeWine’s veto.
The vote in the Senate was 24-8. The Ohio House voted 65-28 to override DeWine’s veto on Jan. 11.
The ACLU of Ohio has already pledged to “do everything we can to fight” the measure, set to go into effect on April 23, according to reports by LGBTQNation.
Equality Ohio representatives have also said their organization is looking into legal and legislative actions against the law. TransOhio representatives said that organization has already spoken with 68 families and seven trans adults who requested emergency relocation funds to leave the state because of the new law.
Dara Adkison, secretary for TransOhio, said on those individuals, “Their government is forcing them to uproot their lives. They’re selling their homes, they’re changing jobs and careers and closing out all of their savings. They’re closing their businesses, they’re leaving their medical practices. The intense amount of personal and community trauma that is being inflicted by the government right now and putting these families through who just love their fucking kids is so cruel.”
Human Rights Campaign President Kelley Robinson said in a written statement that Ohio lawmakers have “abdicated their responsibility to do what’s right for the Ohioans they represent, casting votes that they know full well will harm innocent children, all to appease the leader of the MAGA agenda. … It’s shameful.”
— Tammye Nash
