Multiple reports say a Franklin County, Ohio, judge has temporarily blocked a law protecting children from so-called “gender-affirming” care. This type of care includes puberty blocking medications, hormone therapy, and gender reassignment surgery.
According to The Columbus Dispatch, the American Civil Liberties Union filed a lawsuit against the legislation on behalf of two “transgender girls” and their families. Lawyers argued that the law violated the state Constitution.
The act was to enter into force this month (via Sending Columbus):
House Bill 68 allows Ohioans under the age of 18 who are already receiving hormones or puberty blockers to continue taking the medications as long as doctors determine that stopping their apply would cause harm. Critics say it won’t be enough to protect existing patients because health care providers may fear legal repercussions.
The legislation does not prohibit talk therapy, but does require mental health providers to obtain consent from at least one parent or guardian to diagnose and treat gender dysphoria.
The bill also prohibits transgender girls and women from playing on girls’ high school and college sports teams. It does not specify how schools will verify an athlete’s gender if it is questioned. Players and their families can sue if they feel they lost an opportunity because of a transgender athlete.
“Today’s ruling is a victory for transgender Ohioans and their families,” Harper Seldin, an ACLU attorney, told the Dispatch. “Ohio’s ban is a blatantly discriminatory violation of the rights of transgender youth and their parents, and poses a real threat to the very young people it purports to protect.”
“This is just the first page of the book,” Attorney General Dave Yost, a Republican, said Monday. “We will fight vigorously to defend this properly passed law that protects our children from irrevocable adult decisions. I am convinced that this law will be respected.”
This week, Townhall described how Kansas Gov. Laura Kelly, a Democrat, vetoed a bill that would have protected vulnerable children from experimental, irreversible “gender-affirming” care for minors.
These decisions come after many states have enacted laws to protect children from these services, Townhall mentioned.
In Ohio especially, this legislation has been a sizzling topic. Late last year, Townhall reported that Ohio’s Republican Gov. Mike DeWine vetoed measures intended to protect women’s sports and protect children from irreversible, experimental transgender “care.” This includes puberty blocking drugs, gender reassignment surgery and hormone therapy. Shortly thereafter, DeWine reversed course and announced that he had signed an executive order banning gender-specific surgery on children.
