Ohio House overrides Governor DeWine's veto of bill that bans gender-mutilating surgeries for minors

The Ohio House, with a Republican majority, voted Wednesday afternoon to override Republican Governor Mike DeWine's veto of a GOP-backed bill that would have banned gender-mutilating surgeries for minors and prevented males from competing in female sporting events.

The override passed in a 65-28 vote.

"Today, we are making history as we gather to override the governor's veto," stated Republican state Representative Jena Powell, who spoke about protecting women in sports ahead of the vote. "This bill would ensure women compete on a level playing field in Ohio."

During the Wednesday session, Democratic state representatives spoke out in support of the Republican governor's decision to veto House Bill 68.

State Representative Anita Somani (D) said, "I'm disappointed that what we're doing is harmful to people in our state. Legislatures don't trust science."

She claimed that "a political, hateful agenda was pushed through."

"Why? Because of money given by radical Christian groups to push an agenda that does not help a single family," Somani continued.

State Representative Richard Brown (D) argued that the bill violates Ohio's single-subject rule.

"This bill deals with two different subjects," Brown explained. "Number one, gender-affirming care... and number two, trans-athletic bans."

State Representative Jessica Miranda (D) accused supporters of the override of "literally killing our children."

"Take that in for a moment. Literally killing our children," Miranda repeated. "All to win your Republican primary races. Disgusting."

"I hope all of the money that CCV, the so-called Center for Christian Virtue, raises off of bullying our children keeps them up every single night of their low lives," she added.

Republican state Representative Gary Click, the bill's sponsor, made closing comments ahead of the vote.

"I don't intend to return the accusations of hate. Until a moment ago, I wanted to say no one in here hates anyone. I think most people here have good intentions. I believe our governor has good intentions. However, good intentions do not save lives or protect women. Good policy does," Click stated.

"Why in the world do we live in a society that says to our children that you need a scalpel and drugs to be your 'authentic self'?" Click asked.

What's the background?

In late December, DeWine vetoed HB 68, Blaze News previously reported. Despite overwhelming support from the party, DeWine claimed he could not allow the legislation to become law as currently written.

Supporters championed the bill as strengthening parental rights. HB 68, also known as the Saving Adolescents from Experimentation Act, would have banned medical professionals from performing so-called gender-affirming surgeries on minors or prescribing children cross-sex hormones. The legislation would have also prohibited males from competing in women's sporting events.

DeWine stated, "I've also listened to youth and parents. Parents who have told me if not for this treatment, their child would be dead."

"Now, while there are rare times in the law in other circumstances where the state overrules the medical decisions made by the parents, I can think of no examples where this is done where it is not only against the decision of the parent, but also against the medical judgement of the treating physician and against the judgement of the treating team of medical experts," he added.

The governor called for the general assembly to continue working on the measure.

After receiving criticism from the bill's supporters for vetoing the legislation, one week later, DeWine signed an "emergency" executive order banning gender-mutilating surgeries for minors, Blaze News previously reported.

"[A]lthough I vetoed Substitute House Bill 68, I stated clearly in my Veto Message that I agreed with the General Assembly that no gender transition surgeries should be performed on anyone under the age of 18 and I directed agencies under my purview to draft rules to ban this practice in Ohio," DeWine's Executive Order 2024-01D stated.

He called his intervention "necessary" to protect children and families.

"[T]he Ohio Department of Health has drafted rules that would prohibit gender transition surgeries on anyone under the age of 18 in Ohio's hospitals and health care facilities, including ambulatory surgical facilities," the order added.

On Friday, Click called out the governor for condemning government intervention and then enacting an executive order.

"While I support his efforts as a temporary measure, I cannot accept them as a substitute for the SAFE Act. His suggestion that we take his measures and place them in a bill for his signature was insulting," he stated.

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