Ohio Senate passed a bill restricting transgender girls in women's sports and gender health care, primarily minors in the state, on Wednesday.
House Bill 68 covers two acts: the "Save Adolescents from Experimentation Act," which bans transgender minors from receiving gender-affirming care, and the "Save Women's Sports Act," which prevents transgender girls from participating in women's sports.
Ohio Senate Passes House Bill 68
On Wednesday, the Senate Oversight Committee passed the bill before passing 24-8 in the Senate. The bill progressed to the House of Representatives in June, but it will head back to the chamber for a second vote to approve the amendments made by the Senate.
The bill will be moved next to Republican Gov. Mike DeWine, but it was unclear if he would sign or reject it. However, DeWine previously opposed anti-trans sports bans.
The Ohio High School Athletic Association said that transgender student-athletes should have equal opportunities to participate in sports.
According to their transgender policy, for a transgender female to participate, she must either complete a minimum of one year of hormone treatment or prove that she did not possess physical or physiological advantages over genetic females.
For a transgender male to participate, he must show that his muscle mass developed as a result of testosterone treatment and does not exceed the muscle mass typical of adolescent genetic males. The hormone levels were monitored every three to six months.
Furthermore, a bill banning transgender athletes from sports that correspond with their gender identity failed in the Ohio legislature last year. The Senate restored and passed the bill, but House representatives voted against it.
Transgender Support Groups Speak Out
Tristan Vaughn, co-founder of Cincinnati transgender support group Transform Cincy, said she fears that the bill banning gender-affirming care would result in increased complications for young people diagnosed with gender dysphoria.
"And this is why we continue to do the work, because that side, it doesn't look great," Vaughn said.
The parents of transgender children also expressed their sentiments and said that their kids' medical care was none of the legislature's business. They pointed out that major cosmetic surgeries for minors, such as breast implants and liposuction, were legal for minors in Ohio with parental consent.
On the other hand, supporters of the bill believed that it would protect children from unnecessary medical treatment.
Matt Sharp with Alliance Defending Freedom, a conservative Christian legal advocacy group, testified before the oversight committee on Wednesday and said the bill would protect children, as they deserve a natural childhood.
According to the American Civil Liberties Union, 26 bills were passed into law in 20 states restricting health care for LGBTQ Americans this year. Several of these states were having their bans challenged in court.
Movement Advancement Project, an independent nonprofit think tank, reported that there were 24 states with laws or regulations that ban transgender students from participating in sports consistent with their gender identity.
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