Earlier this year, shortly after Republican Governor Mike DeWine vetoed HB 68, supposedly to protect parents and children from government overreach on medical decisions, his veto was overridden by a wide margin of the state legislature.
"Actually, it gives us a lot more grassroots, widespread support knowing that the Republican majority in the statehouse, even more people voted to override the veto than voted in favor the bill the first time," Mission America President Linda Harvey relays.
Officials had expected the law to take effect roughly 90 days after the override votes, or by April 24. But last month, a court delayed its implementation and then extended that postponement another two weeks – a decision that came just one day after a state legislative panel approved DeWine's proposed rule to only prohibit mutilative surgeries for minors.
Harvey, however, remains confident the legislation will eventually be successful.
"The Kentucky and Tennessee laws prohibiting these gender treatments for children have been affirmed by the Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals, which Ohio is part of," she notes.
The contested law prohibits doctors from prescribing puberty blockers and cross-sex hormones to Ohioans under the age of 18 and bars biological males from competing in women's and girls' sports in K-12 schools and higher education.
