COLUMBUS–The Ohio Senate has voted 24-8 to override Governor Mike DeWine's veto of Substitute House Bill (HB68). With the Ohio House of Representatives' vote to successfully override the Governor on January 10, the bill will now become law in 90 days.

Backed by Center for Christian Virtue (CCV) and sponsored by Representative Gary Click (R-Vickery) and Representative Jena Powell (R-Arcanum), the legislation prohibits the practice of dangerous and sterilizing transgender medicine on children and protects girls in K-12 and collegiate sports from being forced to compete against boys.

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

“No child is born in the wrong body, no matter what powerful and well-funded lobbyists say. Today, Ohio has told an exploitative medical industry that we reject your junk science and will no longer allow you to experiment on our children.

“We’ve also guaranteed that every young woman in this state will have a free and fair playing field and will not be forced to compete against boys.

“This marks a turning point in Ohio: we will not remain silent when our children are being harmed.

“It takes a relentless drive to pass life-saving legislation like this. That’s why I’m grateful for the leadership of the sponsor of the Saving Adolescents From Experimentation (SAFE) Act, Rep. Gary Click, and the sponsor of the Save Women’s Sports Act, Rep. Jena Powell, which, combined, made up HB68. 

“Yet passing groundbreaking legislation like this takes many leaders standing up together. Senate President Matt Huffman has been a clear voice and force for children throughout this process, and Speaker Jason Stephens moved quickly to override Gov. DeWine’s veto.

“Senators Kristina Roegner and Andrew Brenner brought clarity to the committee process in the Senate, and Representatives Brian Stewart and Scott Lipps held the children’s hospitals accountable for their lies in the House. 

“I’m also grateful for CCV’s association with Alliance Defending Freedom. Their legal expertise is unmatched in America and is crucial when staring down a deep-pocketed medical industry that is willing to manipulate and hide the facts when debating legislation like this. 

“However, I’m most grateful for the families and medical professionals that came forward to share their stories and expertise. This bill would not have been enacted without your courage and your willingness to take great personal risk. 

"I will never forget the countless phone calls and coffees CCV Policy Director David Mahan and I have had with families who had been pressured into transgender medicine by these heartless 'gender clinics.'

"These families were willing to put it all on the line to make this bill become a law, and without them, HB68 would not be here today.

"CCV will continue to fight for children and to stand for the vulnerable in the mighty name of Jesus!”

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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