Yesterday, the Ohio Senate voted to override Governor DeWine’s veto of HB 68. HB 68 blocks gender-affirming care for trans youth, bans trans girls from participating in sports, and prohibits trans youth from starting hormone replacement therapy (HRT) and puberty blockers. HB 68 triggers disparities in gender-affirming care access for adults too, by unecessarily requiring mental health providers, primary care providers, and bioethicists to sign off on necessary, life-saving care.
Dr. Elise Berlan, Fellow with Physicians for Reproductive Health and adolescent medicine physician in Ohio, responds:
Gender-affirming care for people of all ages is evidence-based, and it is safe.
“It is devastating and downright dangerous to learn that young people in Ohio will be denied their right to full spectrum health care because of their gender identity. I am honored to provide care for young people of all genders across the state. This includes nonbinary and trans youth. Access to gender-affirming care for all young people is essential to advancing the health and well-being of our communities. When young people have access to health care that trusts, respects, and affirms who they are, they are given opportunities to grow, flourish, and live long and healthy lives.
“I am appalled at the meddling of legislators into the practice of medicine, thereby targeting and attacking trans and nonbinary young people’s ability to be their whole selves.
“Gender-affirming care for people of all ages is evidence-based, and it is safe. The real threat to young people are the laws attempting to control and coerce their health care options.”