The Right Is Not Happy With Gov Devine
On Friday afternoon, Ohio Governor Mike DeWine vetoed House Bill 68, which would have banned biological males from participating in women's athletics and prohibited doctors from prescribing puberty blockers and cross-sex hormones to children. The move has raised eyebrows and sparked speculation that DeWine may have been influenced by campaign donations from organizations that support transgender medical treatment for minors.
According to a report published by The Daily Caller News Foundation, DeWine has received a total of $40,000 in campaign donations from several children's hospitals and organizations, including the Ohio Children's Hospital Association (OCHA), Cincinnati Children's Hospital, Nationwide Children's Hospital, and ProMedica Children's Hospital. These donations were made between 2018 and 2023.
One of the hospitals, Cincinnati Children's, has a Transgender Health Center that offers treatment to children as young as five years old, without listing an age limit for starting drugs such as puberty blockers and cross-sex hormones. This has raised concerns among critics who believe that DeWine may have been influenced by the potential loss of these donations if he had signed the bill.
DeWine has defended his decision to veto the bill, stating that he believes it is necessary to protect human life. He said that he has personally heard from parents who have told him that their child would have taken their own life without access to transgender medical treatment. He also stated that he has been approached by grown adults who claim that such treatment saved their lives when they were teenagers.
However, not everyone is convinced by DeWine's justification for vetoing the bill. Activist and former NCAA swimmer Riley Gaines tweeted, "Oh, so you mean Gov DeWine was compromised by dollar signs? Shocker...They always follow the $$$$." This sentiment was also echoed by former President Donald Trump, who tweeted, "DeWine has fallen to the Radical Left...What was he thinking."
Trump went on to suggest that the Ohio legislature should act quickly to overturn DeWine's veto. At this time, it is unclear whether the legislature will do so, as they would need a three-fifths majority to override the governor's decision.
Oh, and would you look at that! The Ohio Children's Hospital Association has given DeWine $20,000.
How nice of him to veto the bill that would have cost "gender affirming" children's hospitals millions of dollars. pic.twitter.com/SDbBl2bxHe
— Parker Thayer (@ParkerThayer) December 29, 2023
The controversial bill, which had passed the Ohio House in June by a vote of 57-36, had garnered widespread support from Republicans and conservative groups. Supporters argued that the bill was necessary to protect the integrity of women's sports and prevent minors from undergoing irreversible medical procedures without fully understanding the implications.
However, opponents, including LGBTQ+ advocates and medical professionals, argued that the bill was discriminatory and harmful to transgender youth. They also highlighted the potential negative impact on Ohio's economy, as several states and organizations, including the NCAA, have threatened to boycott states that pass anti-transgender legislation.
In light of the backlash and criticisms, DeWine's decision to veto the bill has sparked outrage among many supporters. Some have even called for his resignation, citing his departure from conservative principles and bowing to pressure from outside interests.
At this time, it is uncertain what the future holds for Ohio's efforts to regulate transgender medical treatment for minors. Whether the legislature will act to overturn the veto and if DeWine will face any political consequences for his decision remains to be seen. But one thing is clear: the debate surrounding transgender rights and medical treatment for minors is far from over.