COLUMBUS–Ohio Governor Mike DeWine announced at a press conference on Friday, December 29, that he is vetoing Substitute House Bill (HB68), which includes the Save Women's Sports Act and the SAFE (Saving Adolescents From Experimentation) Act. The CCV-backed bill bans sterilizing and experimental transgender medicine on children and protects girls from being forced to compete against boys in K-12 and collegiate athletics.

The following statement is from Center for Christian Virtue President Aaron Baer:

“Mike DeWine has failed Ohio, and it’s our children who are going to pay the price. If the General Assembly does not override his veto, when we look back a generation from now at the thousands of kids who have been sterilized and harmed by dangerous and experimental transgender medical procedures, we will realize that those in power did nothing to stop it.

“The only people celebrating this veto today are progressive activists who recklessly proclaim children can be ‘born in the wrong bodies’ and the children’s hospitals that are profiting off the sterilization and manipulation of children and parents.

“As a father of girls, it’s a heartless act that the Governor would force my girls to compete against boys.

“All of the Governor’s proposals he offered with his override are hollow because they not only allow for children to continue to be harmed by cross-sex hormones and puberty-blocking drugs, but they are mere executive orders that can be immediately repealed by the next Governor. 

“HB68 was passed with supermajorities, meaning the General Assembly could right this wrong and override the Governor’s veto. I urge President Huffman and Speaker Stephens to act swiftly to protect our kids and right this wrong before more children are hurt.”

For more information, contact CCV at 513-733-5775 or contact@ccv.org. For media inquiries, email media@ccv.org 

As Ohio’s largest Christian public policy organization, Center for Christian Virtue seeks the good of our neighbors by advocating for public policy that reflects the truth of the Gospel. 

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