Buckeye Reporter

State Representative Brian Stewart (R-Ashville) has expressed his support for the Ohio House's decision to override Governor DeWine's veto on the Save Adolescents from Experimentation (SAFE) Act. His focus is on preventing biological males from competing in female sports and opposing permanent sex-change surgeries for children.

Stewart stated, "Biological males should not be competing against females in sports, and permanent sex-change surgeries should not be performed on children." He continued, "I was proud to co-sponsor the SAFE Act, to vote for it on the House floor, and now, to override the governor’s veto."

The Ohio Legislature explains that the SAFE Act aims to prohibit gender transition procedures for minors due to concerns about potential risks and insufficient comprehensive studies on long-term effects of such interventions. Furthermore, it stipulates that no health care professional - including nurses, counselors, and physicians - shall provide gender transition procedures to individuals under eighteen years of age. If enacted, this act would also restrict public funds, health insurance policies, and Medicaid from covering gender transition procedures for those under eighteen.

In a press release issued by Governor DeWine of Ohio, he has issued Executive Order 2024-02D. This order restricts certain medical procedures or surgeries in office settings if they are prohibited by rules or laws governing hospitals or ambulatory surgical facilities.

CBS News reports that Governor DeWine's veto of the legislation was driven by concerns about government overreach into medical decisions. His aim was to protect parents' and children's autonomy. The Ohio House decided to override Governor DeWine's veto on this contentious legislation with a party-line vote of 65-28. The Republican-dominated Senate is scheduled to conduct its override vote on January 24th, highlighting a partisan divide within the state legislature.