Enforcement of minor's gender affirmation restriction allowed during appeals process, rules Ohio court.
Update: Ohio's Battle Over Gender-Affirming Care and Trans Athletes
The Buckeye State's contentious fight over gender-affirming care for minors and transgender women's participation in sports took an unexpected turn with the Ohio Supreme Court's latest ruling.
The Ruling: In a 4-3 decision, Ohio can implement its ban on gender-affirming care for minors while an appeal is underway. This 2023 law also disallows transgender women and girls from competing in women's sports.
Reversal of Lower Court Decision: Tuesdays' decision overturns a lower court's previous March verdict that blocked the bill from being enacted.
Legal Battle: Ohio Attorney General Dave Yost, a Republican, celebrated the victory as a means to "protect vulnerable children." In stark contrast, Governor Mike DeWine, also a Republican, had vetoed the controversial SAFE Act in December 2023, citing it as "reflective, limited, and 'pro-life.' The legislature quickly overturned the veto.
Centerstage: Justice Pat DeWine, the governor's son, joined forces with three newly-elected Republican justices to reinstate the law. The ruling came despite dissents by Chief Justice Sharon Kennedy, and Justices Jennifer Brunner and Pat Fischer.
Controversial Provisions: The law forbids counseling, surgery, and hormone therapy for youth, with exceptions for those already receiving treatment and deemed risky to withdraw. Similarly, it prohibits transgender women and girls from participating in women's sports.
Lawsuit: Filed by the American Civil Liberties Union and Goodwin law firm in March 2024, the lawsuit argues that the law unjustly denies medical attention to transgender children and teens, discriminating against them by allowing the use of identical medications for other purposes.
Impact: The Christian Virtue Center, which advocated for the law, applauded Tuesday's ruling, claiming the Ohio legislature's power to enact protective laws, with the Supreme Court siding in favor of the Ohio Constitution.
Enrichment Insights:- Legislation regarding gender-affirming care for minors and transgender women in sports has been a subject of recent and significant legal battles in Ohio.- As of June 2025, the 2023 law that bans gender-affirming care for minors and transgender women's participation in sports remains in effect.- Reports of a definitive, sweeping Ohio Supreme Court ruling overturning or upholding these laws are not available as of the latest information.- Moreover, Ohio's 2025 state budget includes provisions that prohibit Medicaid coverage for mental health services that "promote or affirm gender transition," and withhold state funds from youth shelters that affirm transgender youth.- Further anti-LGBTQ+ provisions in the new state budget include banning the display of Pride flags on state property and mandating that materials on sexual orientation or gender identity not be visible to minors in libraries.
Looking Ahead: LGBTQ+ rights groups and legal organizations continue to challenge similar laws across the nation, but there is no apparent indication of a binding Ohio Supreme Court ruling that invalidates the bans on gender-affirming care for minors or transgender participation in sports.
- The ongoing debates in Ohio's politics have centered on issues such as gender-affirming care for minors and transgender athletes, with the average American keeping a general-news watch on the progression of policy-and-legislation.
- After the Ohio Supreme Court's recent ruling, war-and-conflicts seem to have taken a back seat in the news as the state grapples with the repercussions of the court's decision on the ban of gender-affirming care and transgender participation in sports.
- Crime-and-justice has seen a shift in focus with the latest developments in the legal battles surrounding Ohio's policy on gender-affirming care and transgender women's participation in sports, raising questions about the fairness and efficacy of such legislation.
