COLUMBUS, Ohio — Ohio lawmakers and organizations are reacting after Gov. Mike DeWine announced that he vetoed a measure that would ban gender-affirming care and transgender athletes playing girls sports.
DeWine announced plans to move to administratively ban transgender surgeries until a person is 18, and to position the state to better regulate and track gender-affirming treatments in both children and adults.
At a news conference, DeWine said he hoped the hybrid approach could win the support of legislative Republicans — who immediately signaled they're considering a veto override — as well as serve as a national model to states, as gender-affirming care restrictions enacted across the country in recent years face lawsuits.
Ohio organizations and lawmakers responded to the veto with the following statements:
Senate President Matt Huffman
"I'm extremely disappointed by the Governor's veto. Changes were made to the bill to accommodate his concerns, and the bill was strongly supported in the Senate by the Republican Caucus. Overrides to a veto must start in the chamber where the bill originated. We look forward to the House taking the next step."
House Minority Leader Allison Russo
“I appreciate that Governor DeWine took his time to listen to the individuals most impacted by this discriminatory legislation and to understand the fact-based science on this issue. It sends a much needed message of support to Ohio's LGBTQ+ youth that they and their families are seen and heard and deserve the fundamental freedom like everyone else to feel safe in their own communities and to maintain their rights as parents to make medical decisions that are best for their children."
Melissa Wervey Arnold, Chief Executive Officer of the Ohio Chapter, American Academy of Pediatrics
“We are grateful that Governor DeWine’s veto today allows for more thoughtful consideration of this legislation, which had the potential to negatively impact care for some of Ohio’s most vulnerable youth.
Ohio pediatricians look forward to working with the Ohio Department of Health and other stakeholders to ensure that sound medical research and best practices for standards of care are at the center of any guidelines or regulations – and that such efforts preserve the ability for patients, their families and their medical providers to make their health care decisions together.”
Siobhan Boyd-Nelson, Interim Executive Director of Equality Ohio
"Gender-affirming care is healthcare. It’s a way of supporting young people as they develop. It’s a very natural way of supporting young people as they develop. All young people from a young age start counseling, therapy, conversations with therapists and with families so they can understand what it means for everyone. Call your legislator, let your representative and senator know you support the governor's veto, you support Ohio parents and you believe Ohio should be home for everyone including transgender and non-binary youth."
Former president Donald Trump also weighed in on DeWine's decision to veto the bill, posting on Truth Social that he won't be introducing him at rallies anymore.