Oho Secretary Frank LaRose has signed the SAFE Act, also known as the House Bill 68, thereby banning critical gender-affirming health care for minors and transgender student-athletes from playing on sports teams that align with their gender identity, effectively banning them from school sports entirely. The bill was first vetoed by Governor Mike DeWine and then overridden by the Ohio House.

“The SAFE Act will be effective on April 24, 2024,” said Secretary Frank LaRose while signing the legislature’s override sent to him for accent.

“I’ve signed and filed the legislature’s veto override, formally concluding the process of passing HB68! I’ll say it again: Men shouldn’t compete in women’s sports, and kids shouldn’t be subjected to permanent, life-altering gender change procedures. The SAFE Act will be effective on 4/24.”

Governor DeWine had vetoed the Bill on December 29, 2023, saying that” While there are rare times in the law — in other circumstances — where the State overrules the medical decisions made by the parents, I can think of no example where this is done, not only against the decision of the parents, but also against the medical judgement of the treating physician and the treating team of medical experts.

But the Republican majority House led by the Speaker of the House Jason Stephens and the Senate President Matt Huffman had vowed to override the Governor’s refusal to ascent to the Bill

In voting to override the Bill the Ohio Senate leader said “House Bill 68 protects women’s sports in Ohio. By maintaining the integrity of Title IX, the bill ensures that our daughters’ courts, playing fields, and locker rooms are safe, competitive, and for women only.

“The bill also prevents gender reassignment surgeries and the use of cross-sex hormones and puberty blockers for children, protecting youth from procedures and drugs that have life-long consequences while also ensuring access to mental health care.”

However, Senate Democratic Leader Nickie J. Antonio (D- Lakewood) condemned the Ohio Senate’s decision to override the governor’s veto of House Bill 68, which bans gender-affirming care for trans minors and bans transgender student athletes from participating in sports that align with their gender identity.

“Politicians have no business banning evidence-based, life-saving medical care – especially when it is endorsed by every major medical and mental health association,” said Antonio.

Support the New Americans magazine to continue to serve our community with precise news that affect the new American, immigrant and refugee community. https://paypal.com/donate/?hosted_button_id=8LHFS78NRNJJY&source=url