Former collegiate swimmer Riley Gaines delivers opening remarks on Capitol Hill about protecting women’s sports. Conservatives online torched Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine, a Republican, over his veto of a state bill to protect women’s sports. The bill, the Save Adolescents from Experimentation (SAFE) Act, passed the GOP-controlled state legislature but was vetoed by DeWine on Friday.
The SAFE Act aimed to prohibit sex change treatments for minors and prevent transgender women and girls from participating in female sports leagues in Ohio. However, DeWine justified his decision based on the belief that parents should have the authority to make medical decisions for their children. He argued that the state should not interfere with the decisions made by the parents and the medical experts involved in the child’s care.
Conservatives online expressed their disappointment and criticized DeWine’s veto, accusing him of prioritizing slogans over protecting children from irreversible procedures. Republican Senator JD Vance questioned DeWine’s justification and highlighted the influence of interest groups and big pharma in pushing for such treatments.
Another GOP presidential candidate from Ohio, Vivek Ramaswamy, condemned the veto, stating that it would allow boys to compete in girls’ sports and enable harmful procedures like genital mutilation and chemical castration in children. Ramaswamy also pointed out that even Lt. Governor Jon Husted supported the bill’s passage, further emphasizing his disappointment in DeWine’s decision.
Women’s sports advocate Riley Gaines expressed her disappointment in DeWine’s veto and called for his removal from office. However, not all Republicans joined in the criticism. Ohio state Rep. Gary Click acknowledged that the governor’s decision sparked a dialogue and expressed his hope for further discussions to find a solution.
To override the governor’s veto, a three-fifths majority vote is required in both chambers of the Ohio state legislature. Currently, Republicans hold a supermajority in both the state Senate and the state House, which gives them the power to potentially override the veto.
The controversy surrounding DeWine’s veto highlights the ongoing debate over transgender participation in sports and the role of the state in regulating medical decisions for minors. The issue has become a subject of intense discussion and disagreement among conservatives and liberals alike.
It remains to be seen whether the Ohio state legislature will gather enough support to override DeWine’s veto and enact the SAFE Act into law. This decision will have significant implications for the future of women’s sports in the state and may set a precedent for similar debates in other parts of the country.
Houston Keene is a politics writer for Digital. Story tips can be sent to [email protected] and on Twitter: @HoustonKeene Get the latest updates from the 2024 campaign trail, exclusive interviews, and more politics content.
