The measure, which combines two controversial bills in the Republican-dominated House of Representatives, could revolutionize the way LGBTQ+ youth live in the state.
COLUMBUS, Ohio — Transgender student-athletes in Ohio will be barred from playing women’s and women’s sports, and minors will be barred from receiving gender-affirming care. a multifaceted proposal The panel cleared the state House of Representatives Wednesday.
The measure, which combines two controversial bills in the Republican-dominated House of Representatives, could revolutionize the way LGBTQ+ youth live in the state.
The proposal would require K-12 schools and colleges to designate ” independent team but explicitly bans transgender girls from women’s sports while opening the door for transgender athletes to play on all-men or co-ed teams.
Supporters say the sports ban is meant to level the playing field and preserve the “integrity of women’s sport”, while opponents say the bill is cruel to kids who just want to play sports and form friendships with teammates who match their gender identity of.
Minors in Ohio would also be barred from taking puberty blockers and other hormone treatments or undergoing sex reassignment surgery to further conform them to their gender identity.
Doctors who violate the bill could lose their license to practice if it becomes law. Transgender children currently receiving hormone therapy will have to stop treatment or leave the state.
Supporters of the ban say delaying treatment and surgery until legal majority is important because children under 18 cannot give “informed consent”.
But parents of transgender children who testified against the bill say it’s not about the legislature and that medical decisions for transgender children should be made by their families and doctors.
“At the end of the day, they’re putting kids at risk and they’re demonizing teachers,” said Felicia DeRosa, a local art teacher. “As a teacher, I’d rather go to jail than let my kids go.”
Kathryn Poe from Equality Ohio believes that the push for multiple bills surrounding the LGBTQ+ community is an attempt to drive community members out of Ohio.
“Pride celebrations are happening all over the state, and people are coming out and being themselves, unapologetically. Meanwhile, at the state capitol, our legislators are directly targeting people, trying to get under their skin and make Ohio has become a less inclusive place to live,” Poe said.
The proposal could be put to a full vote by the House of Representatives as soon as next week.
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