Court blocks Ohio ban on gender-affirming care for minors

TOLEDO, Ohio (WTVG) – An Ohio court Tuesday overturned much of a sate law banning gender-affirming care for minors.

The decision from an appeals court on March 18 overturned many components House Bill 68 following a lawsuit from advocacy groups on behalf of families with transgender kids challenging the law’s constitutionality.

The ruling however said the court declines to address whether the law’s ban on the prescription of puberty-blocking and cross-sex hormone drugs violates the Health Care Freedom Amendment.

“I decline to address whether H.B. 68′s ban on the prescription of puberty-blocking and cross-sex hormone drugs to assist minors with gender transition violates the HCFA as to minor-appellants because it is not clear from the complaint and evidence presented in this case that minor-appellants in their individual capacities are asserting an independent right separate from their parents’ right to purchase health care,” the filing read.

Members with the ACLU of Ohio are calling the ruling a win for LGBTQ+ Ohioans.

“This win restores the right of trans youth in Ohio to choose vitally important health care, with the support of their families and physicians,” Freda Levenson, Legal Director at the ACLU of Ohio said in a statement. “We are gratified by the Court’s decision, which soundly rejects this interference of politicians with Ohioans’ bodily autonomy. Although this litigation will likely not end here, we remain fervently committed to preventing this egregious bill from ever again taking effect.”

Ohio Attorney General Dave Yost said his office plans to appeal the decision and seek an immediate stay.

“There is no way I’ll stop fighting to protect these unprotected children,” Yost said in a statement. “Ohio’s elected representatives properly passed legislation protecting children from irreversible chemical sex change procedures, and the trial court upheld the law. But now the 10th district court of appeals has just greenlighted these permanent medical interventions against minors.”

The law also banned trans women and girls from participating in sports in Ohio

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