Published on January 24, 2024, 2:08 am

Ohio’s Governor Mike DeWine, a member of the Republican party, recently came under fire within his GOP ranks after vetoing HB 68, also known as the Saving Adolescents from Experimentation (SAFE) Act. The proposed legislation aimed to uphold fairness in women’s sports and put an end to cross-sex hormones, puberty blockers, and body-altering gender-related surgeries for minors under 18.

Despite vetoing the bill, shortly thereafter, DeWine implemented a transgender-focused “emergency” executive order which distinctly fell short of striving towards the objectives outlined in HB 68. While seemingly eager to prevent minors from altering their bodies in favor of complying with gender narratives, it appeared that DeWine was hesitant about supporting initiatives preventing chemical castration of minors or upholding safety and fairness in women’s sports.

His decision only to ban transgender surgeries for minors seemed like an attempt to grasp at easy solutions while sidestepping more complex issues. His veto against a comprehensive legislative package – one that recognized biological sex as immutable and sought protection for vulnerable populations – instead appeared like capitulation to a small yet highly vocal minority.

In explaining his decision, DeWine contended that if HB 68 were made law, it would imply that the state knows better than parents when deciding what is best for their children. While I concede parental involvement holds paramount importance during medical decisions concerning their children, I can’t help but wonder why there seems to be an acceleration towards allowing chemical castration and sterility resultant from hormonal treatments and puberty blockers.

Why must equal athletic competition for young females be sacrificed for males who identify as female – particularly when it potentially risks losing scholarships or sporting accolades? It’s puzzling as data shows almost 70% of Americans are supportive of dividing sports teams by biological sex – an increase from two years ago.

Governor DeWine has not commented on the portion of HB 68 concerning separate sex sports and maintaining athletic equality for Ohio’s young female cohorts. This silence is curious when majority opinion seems to support the opposite.

Cincinnati Children’s Hospital, known for performing trans surgeries on minors and a significant donor to DeWine’s campaign, lobbied him to veto HB 68. Their CEO Steve Davis even openly stated that the bill hindered doctors and parents from determining the best treatment plan for their children — a viewpoint that DeWine later echoed.

If enacted, HB 68 would help guard against cases of gender dysphoria – where up to 94% of affected teens accept their biological sex following adolescence – as well as protect athletic opportunities for females. Its veto has left many puzzled, with some advocating it represents a significant human rights violation warranting immediate investigation into procedures taking place in gender-affirming clinics across Ohio.

In late December, upon the Governor’s veto of HB 68, both Republican Senate President Matt Huffman and GOP House Speaker Jason Stephens expressed their disappointment and considered a veto override. By January 9th, the Ohio House voted in favor of an override with state representative Gary Click expressing that his office had received unprecedented calls advocating for this action.

Now it lies in the hands of the state Senate set to deliberate on Wednesday, requiring only 20 votes in the 33-member body to override DeWine’s veto. If successful, it could prove that legislative power can align more closely with popular public sentiment — signaling real news and endorsed news from a Christian worldview on protecting future generations.