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COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP) — Republican Gov. Mike DeWine on Friday vetoed a measure that would have banned gender-affirming care for minors and transgender athletes from participation in girls’ and women’s sports, in line with his party’s Members who supported the legislation.
GOP lawmakers have enough seats to override DeWine’s veto, but it was not immediately clear whether they would do so. Republican legislators hold seats both within and between houses. not in lockstep this year.
Hundreds of opponents testified against it as it moved through the Ohio Legislature, including medical and mental health providers, education professionals, faith leaders, parents of transgender children and transgender individuals themselves.
He condemned the law, saying it is cruel, threatens the lives of transgender youth and is based on fear-mongering rather than science.
The measure, which passed the legislature earlier this month with only Republican support, would have barred Ohio minors from taking puberty blockers and undergoing other hormone therapy or receiving gender reassignment surgeries that would change their gender identity. Will align with. However, this would allow any minor who is an Ohio resident to continue the treatment they are currently receiving.
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DeWine’s veto is a departure from the nationwide trend of passing such laws. Since 2021, more than 20 states have enacted laws prohibiting or ban such treatmentsDespite that they have been available in the United States for over a decade and have been long supported Major medical associations. Most of those states face lawsuits, but courts have issued mixed decisions.
The bill would also require public K-12 schools and universities to designate separate teams for the male and female genders, and would explicitly prohibit transgender girls and women from participating in sports consistent with their gender identity. Supporters argued that banning transgender athletes from girls’ and women’s sports preserves the integrity of those sports and ensures fairness.
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