Antonio Condemns Culture War Bill

Today, Senate Minority Leader Nickie J. Antonio (D-Lakewood) issued a statement after the Ohio Senate voted to pass House Bill 68, which will ban critical gender-affirming health care for minors and ban transgender student-athletes from playing on sports teams that align with their gender identity, effectively banning them from school sports entirely.

“Ohio voters have repeatedly told us that they don’t want the government involved in their personal health care decisions,” said Antonio. “This bill is going to set a dangerous precedent– some parents have rights and some parents don’t. This bill strips rights away from parents and bans children’s access to evidence-based healthcare. Physicians need to be able to have comprehensive care discussions with patients and their families, but this bill puts them in an impossible position. No one wants a physician to think about anything but the best interest of their patient–in this case, a child.”

Banning gender-affirming care strips rights away from parents who, in coordination with health care providers, make informed decisions that support their children and let them live as their authentic selves. Gender-affirming care is safe, effective, and supported by every major medical and mental health association.

“This is yet another solution in search of a problem fanning the flame of the culture wars,” said Antonio.

The bill reverses the equitable access for trans students established through Ohio High School Athletic Association and NCAA policies that have been in place for years. Denying this type of youth development to only some students is discriminatory and demonstrates to Ohio's youngest citizens that not all people are treated equally. 

In addition to the more than 300 Ohioans who testified in opposition in the House, over 800 Ohioans have pleaded with the legislature to not pass this bill.

House Bill 68 now heads back to the Ohio House of Representatives for concurrence.