Sen. J.D. Vance (R-OH) blasted Governor Mike DeWine (R-OH) Friday after the governor defended his veto of a bill that would ban gender procedures on minors and prevent boys from competing in girls’ sports.
The bill — HB 68 — vetoed by DeWine on Friday would ban transgender procedures on minors, such as double mastectomies on girls who identify as boys, and other genital procedures for children with gender dysphoria. It would also also prohibit biological boys from competing in girls’ sports across the state. DeWine said at a press conference following his decision to veto the legislation that if the bill were to become law, the government would be encroaching on parents’ rights.
“Ultimately, I believe this is about protecting human life,” DeWine said. “Many parents have told me that their child would not have survived, would be dead today, if they did not receive the treatment they received from one of Ohio’s children’s hospitals. I’ve also been told by those who are now grown adults that, but for this care, they would’ve taken their life when they were teenagers.”
“Were HB 68 to become law, Ohio would be saying that the state — that the government — knows better, what is medically best for their child, than the two people who love that child the most: the parents,” DeWine added. “Therefore I cannot sign this bill as it is currently written.”
Ohio Governor Mike DeWine’s statement on the veto was incredible (see clipped video):
“Were Ohio to pass HB68, it would be saying that the state knows better, what is medically best for their child, than the two people who love that child the most: their parents.” pic.twitter.com/00KxU96wSw
— Erin Reed (@ErinInTheMorn) December 29, 2023
Vance slammed DeWine’s reasoning, saying that the governor pointing to parents’ rights to make medical decisions for their children is simply using “a slogan” to defend his veto.
“This is a slogan, not a justification. There are many things the law rightfully says no one, including parents, may do to children,” Vance wrote on X. “This slogan also ignores the extraordinary pressure from interest groups and big pharma to green light poorly understood, irreversible procedures. I’m extremely disappointed in the governor’s decision and hope it is overridden.”
HB 68 passed mostly along party lines on December 13, with the Ohio House voting 62-27 and the Ohio Senate voting 24-8 to approve the legislation, but after issuing his veto on Friday, DeWine said he was concerned about the legal implications of signing HB 68 into law. The veto can be overridden by a three-fifths vote in the Ohio General Assembly, which is controlled by a Republican supermajority.
Following his veto, DeWine was also criticized by Ohio native and Republican presidential candidate Vivek Ramaswamy as well as detransitioner Chloe Cole, who has spoken out about the dangers of gender procedures.
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“There are two genders. Boys shouldn’t compete with girls in girls’ sports. Kids shouldn’t be subjected to genital mutilation & chemical castration when they suffer mental health lapses. Shame on Ohio Governor Mike DeWine for this failure,” Ramaswamy said.
“Gov. DeWine’s political career is over. What a way to go out. Paid off by the medical lobby, which is insanely powerful in Ohio,” said Cole. “Remember him for his desire to sterilize and mutilate children.”