COLUMBUS, Ohio — Ohio's controversial transgender health care and women's sports law goes on trial on Monday. A judge temporarily blocked the new law from taking effect for nearly three months leading up to this trial.
The law was supposed to take effect on April 24, but the ACLU of Ohio sued, arguing the law violates the state constitution and a judge issued a temporary restraining order.
The law, originally known as House Bill 68, bans gender-affirming surgeries and hormone therapies for transgender minors.
It also bans transgender athletes from competing in girls and women's school sports.
The ACLU sued on behalf of two families with transgender children who could lose access to gender-affirming health care.
Franklin County Judge Michael Holbrook issued the temporary restraining order on April 16. In his written opinion, Judge Holbrook said the law likely violates a requirement that state legislation deal with a single subject. Supporters of the law argue it is constitutional.
University of Cincinnati Political Science Professor David Niven has followed the case closely. He explained what is at stake in regard to the outcome.
"This could be a much more direct and sweeping notion that this violates equal protection, that you can't treat transgender individuals differently without what the court has long held as a compelling government reason," Niven said. "What is being accomplished? Why do you need to do this?"
ACLU of Ohio Legal Director Freda Levenson told 10TV the suit argues the law violates four provisions of the state constitution. Those are the single-subject rule, the equal protection clause, due process rights of the parents and the ban on health care violates a guarantee of freedom to choose health care.
The trial is scheduled to start at 9 a.m. on Monday in Franklin County Common Pleas Court.