‘Urgent. Contact Governor DeWine. Now.’: Reactions to the passing of HB 68 pour in from across Ohio and the entire country

Wednesday’s flurry of legislative activity at the Columbus Statehouse resulted in the passing of HB 68 out of committee, the Ohio Senate and the Ohio House.

This bill combines the Save Adolescents from Experimentation Act with the the Save Women’s Sports Act, resulting in legislation that would ban gender-affirming care for transgender youth and prevents transgender girls from competing in sports from kindergarten through college.

HB 68 next heads to the desk of Gov. Mike DeWine for his signature. DeWine has 10 days to approve or reject the bill, parts of which he has previously opposed.

Reactions to the bill’s passage were swift and outraged, coming from both here and Ohio and from national organizations across the country. We have collected here a sampling.

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“Yesterday was beyond disheartening as legislators put politics over the safety of some of our most vulnerable children. 

We still have hope to block this from becoming law, but we have to act NOW. Please email Gov. DeWine now and tell him that HB 68 is bad public policy. It’s bad for children, for our families, and for our ability to attract and retain talent in our state. We have a choice about who we want to be as a state; HB 68 does not align with our values.

– Equality Ohio

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Kaleidoscope Youth Center is disgusted by H.B. 68 and we denounce and condemn its passage. Moving this legislation forward demonstrates a complete disregard and concern for the lives, futures, and – perhaps most importantly – the humanity of Ohio’s youth. We ask that Governor DeWine not sign this bill into law. H.B. 68 is blatant discrimination. This bill unnecessarily targets transgender and nonbinary youth, their families and allied providers and health professionals. H.B. 68 politicizes the lives of young people in Ohio with zero regard for their health and wellbeing. It is an egregious misuse of power and a breach of public trust in caring for the youth of Ohio.

– Kaleidoscope Youth Center

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“It is disgraceful to watch the Ohio legislature pass another anti-LGBTQ+ bill and continue the harm toward queer youth and their families. HB 68 includes both a ban on transgender students participating in school sports consistent with their gender identity and a ban on gender affirming care, which actively harms youth by restricting access to supports that promote positive health and wellbeing, further marginalizing LGBTQ+ Ohioans. Instead of working to address the bullying and discrimination faced by LGBTQ+ students, the Ohio legislature is bullying the most vulnerable students and writing discrimination into law. School sports promote increased physical activity and a sense of teamwork and community, but extreme legislators are pushing a radical agenda to split teams apart and limit opportunities for transgender students. All students should have the opportunity to participate in school sports alongside their peers. This harmful legislation was created specifically to silence LGBTQ+ students, push kids back into the closet, and remove spaces for them to be their authentic selves. As these attacks target vulnerable communities in Ohio and across the country, we must work together to rise up and support LGBTQ+ youth. We urge Gov. DeWine to veto the legislation and Rise Up for LGBTQ+ Youth.”

– GLSEN

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“Like so many Ohioans, I urge Governor DeWine, whose car efor children is sincere and longstanding, to veto the divisive and anti-LGBTQ+ House Bill 68. In November, Ohioans said clearly that they and their doctors – not politicians at the Statehouse – should make decisions about their healthcare and their lives. Yet Ohio Republicans continue this cruel and cnical fixations with bullying trans kids, which will only exacerbate the youth mental health crisis. Every LGBTQ+ child is a child of God who should feel safe, loved and at home in Ohio. This bill does the opposite.”

– Columbus City Council President Shannon Hardin

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“Our daughter has had eight different medical professionals from three different hospital systems participate in her gender care in the last six years. We received second, third, fourth, and fifth opinions before we made any decisions. This legislation wouldn’t even allow us to have one conversation. How is it that my husband and I are qualified to make other medical decisions for our children, such as if they should have surgery for a broken bone or take ADHD medication, but we’re not qualified to decide if and when they should receive gender care? All transgender kids and their families deserve the basic right of deciding what medical care they receive. All parents of transgender kids deserve the right to receive information on every care option so they can weigh the risks and benefits and choose what is best for their unique child, just like they would for any other situation.”

– Minna Zelch, parent of a transgender daughter, has testified against HB 68

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“All Ohioans deserve a state where they are treated with the dignity and respect they deserve. The Ohio legislature’s relentless focus on anti-transgender legislation is shameful and out of touch with the values of the people of Ohio. Lawmakers in the state should be working to ensure that everyone, no matter who they are or who they love, is able to live free of discrimination and violence. We call on Governor DeWine to listen to the concerns of community members and veto HB68. Ohio is, and should remain, home for Ohioans of all lived experiences.”

– Human Rights Campaign

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“Ohio is blessed with some of the most recognized and outstanding Children’s hospitals in the world. My patients receive care that is based in evidence, that puts mental health first, that respects parental and family desires and values, that respects patient knowledge and understanding and that pursues medical care only with thorough evaluation and consent. And that is true for transgender medical care as well as all other conditions.”

– Pediatrician Dr. Christopher Bolling has testified against HB 68 🔥

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IGNITE ACTION

• From Equality Ohio:
  • Email or call Governor DeWine at 614-466-3555 or 614-644-4357 and tell him to veto HB 68. Provide a statement about why this is important to you if possible, but don’t worry about making it “perfect.” A simple “Veto HB 68” is the most important message to include.
  • Sign the Ohio is Home letter and show your support for an Ohio that is welcoming and affirming for ALL.
  • Community Call: Join Equality Ohio along with TransOhio, Kaleidoscope Youth Center, and ACLU Ohio for a virtual community call on Monday, December 18, at 6pm to discuss HB 68, share resources, and answer your questions. RSVP here.