On Wednesday, Ohio lawmakers voted to override Republican Gov. Mike DeWine’s veto of legislation that would protect minors from irreversible so-called “gender-affirming” care and protect women’s sports from “transgender” athletes.
The Ohio Senate voted to override the measure. It should take effect in approximately 90 days (via the Associated Press):
The override cleared the chamber 24-8 mostly along party lines, save Sen. Nathan Manning, a Republican from Cuyahoga County who has consistently broken from his party on the issue.
Several women's sports advocates, including Riley Gaines, celebrated the victory on X.
Corrected count is 24-8. The votes didn't change from the initial vote to the override vote 👏🏼
— Riley Gaines (@Riley_Gaines_) January 24, 2024
🚨 VETO OVERRIDDEN - HB68 will become law.
— Frank LaRose (@FrankLaRose) January 24, 2024
I'm thankful that our state legislature took action to protect minors from irreversible medical procedures and to protect fairness in women's sports.
Today is good day for women and children in Ohio.
🚨The Republican-controlled legislature stepped up where Governor DeWine failed.
— Nicki Neily (@nickineily) January 25, 2024
If you won’t protect children and the integrity of girls’ sports — families can’t count on you. pic.twitter.com/xuMcQxDQ3x
Chloe Cole, a 19 year old de-transitioner from California who received irreversible “top surgery” as a minor, called the type of health care she received “medical experimentation.” Ohio was the first state where Cole shared her story of detransitioning.
“Ohio has finally finished its job with the strongest bill against gender mutilation and the attack on women’s sports in the entire nation,” Cole said. “I’m glad that the Ohio legislature took its time in getting this right.”
“It is far from over, and this achievement is testimony to the idea that we can change minds, change opinions, and face opposition even within the republican party and still win.”
— Chloe Cole ⭐️ (@ChoooCole) January 25, 2024
My statement on the successful veto override of Ohio HB68: pic.twitter.com/kCyYR6eK6V
To recap, DeWine previously stated that if the bill were to become law, “Ohio would be saying that the state, that the government, knows better what is medically best for a child than the two people who love that child the most, the parents,” which Townhall covered.
DeWine later signed an executive order banning transgender surgeries, but did not include puberty blockers, hormone treatments, or protecting women’s sports from male athletes who think they’re women.