Ohio Republican governor Mike DeWine is currently weighing legislation that would see the state join 20 others in limiting transgender participation in sports as well as gender-affirming care for minors.
The State Senate and Ohio House of Representatives passed HB-68, which combined the Saving Ohio Adolescents from Experimentation Act and the Save Women’s Sports Act, on Dec. 13th.
DeWine has until Friday, Dec. 29th, to either veto or sign the bill into law. If he does neither, the legislation becomes law without his signature.
Stella O’Malley, psychotherapist and director of Genspect, told the Daily Caller that “many politicians feel paralyzed in the face of such hostility.”
DeWine could be in a similar boat.
“Many politicians choose to duck this issue as they feel they will be damned if they do and damned if they don’t,” O’Malley said. “It takes a pioneering and brave politician to grapple with this. But when we look at the astonishing rise in the number of people who regret their medical transition and make the difficult decision to detransition, it is clear that courage is required. We hope the Governor takes the time to read about these issues and comes to the right decision.”
The governor has yet to show his hand, saying he has spent the last weeks researching the video. It should be noted, however, that HB-68 passed both legislative chambers with a Republican supermajority, meaning the Legislature could override a DeWine veto if it came to that.
Currently, only six transgender girls participate in team athletics.
