Ohio Governor Vetoes Bill Banning Gender-Affirming Care for Minors

DeWine Cites Life-Saving Nature of Care and Parental Rights in Decision

Republican Governor Mike DeWine of Ohio vetoed a bill that would have banned gender-affirming care for minors and prohibited transgender athletes who weren’t assigned female at birth from playing on sports teams designated for women.
DeWine cited the life-saving nature of gender-affirming care and the rights of parents to make decisions about their child's healthcare as reasons for his veto.
The vetoed bill, known as the Saving Adolescents from Experimentation (SAFE) Act, was passed by Ohio's Republican-majority House and Senate earlier in December.
Despite the veto, Ohio Republicans have a supermajority in the state legislature, which gives them the power to override DeWine's decision.
DeWine's veto comes amidst a year where nearly 20 states have restricted gender-affirming care for youth under the age of 18.