Ohio’s contested ban on giving transgender treatments to kids and trans athletes in youth sports can take effect after a judge ruled after striking down a challenge by the American Civil Liberties Union on Tuesday.
The bill — which originally passed the Ohio House and Senate on December 13, 2023 — makes it illegal in Ohio for healthcare professionals to perform gender-affirming surgeries or prescribe puberty blockers to patients under the age of 18.
It also bans transgender athletes from participating in organized sports outside of the gender they were assigned at birth.
Exceptions can be made in very specific emergency cases or for minors with pre-existing health conditions.
Ohio Governor and Republican Mike DeWine vetoed the bill, citing concerns that it would do more harm to transgender youth than it may spare for others.
However, Republican super majorities control the state congress in both houses. DeWine’s veto was overridden at the end of January.
However, the ACLU quickly filed a lawsuit, which paused the bill from taking effect.
Franklin County Court of Common Pleas Judge Michael Holbrook, who had initially put the law on hold, later rejected the lawsuit and upheld the bill.
His ruling makes the Ohio trans ban law take effect — though the ACLU has vowed to appeal the decision.
Ohio House Minority Leader Allison Russo called the decision court’s decision “disturbing” in an official statement.
“House Democrats are committed to protecting the well-being of all children, putting people first and continuing to oppose legislation that restricts the freedom of any Ohioan to be themself and receive the healthcare they need,” she said.
Physicians that violate the new law may face the removal of their medical license; sports leagues or schools that do so may lose out on major state funding.
Ohio will join other US states such as Tennessee and Arkansas that have already put similar laws into effect.
