Court Ruling Brings Back Ohio Ban on Gender-Affirming Care for Children
The Ohio Supreme Court has allowed a ban on gender-affirming care for children to go back into effect, just weeks after the Tenth District Court of Appeals had blocked it. The decision means House Bill 68 will now be enforced while the Supreme Court considers its next steps.
No written opinion was issued explaining the stay. David Carey, legal director for the ACLU of Ohio, said, “We don’t know what [the Court] may think about the merits of this case or whether the stay is simply pressing the pause button while they consider a weighty issue.”
In the meantime, families seeking gender-affirming health care for their children face serious challenges. Many are forced to seek treatment out of state, and those who can’t may be denied care altogether. Patients already undergoing treatment are allowed to continue under the law, but new patients will be barred from starting care.
Attorney General Dave Yost’s office welcomed the ruling. Spokesperson Bethany McCorkle said, “We are pleased that the Ohio Supreme Court confirmed that Ohio’s law protecting children from drug-induced gender transitions remains in effect as the case moves forward.”
House Bill 68, also known as the Save Adolescents From Experimentation Act, not only restricts gender-affirming care for children but also bans trans athletes from playing on girls’ sports teams, a provision that was already in effect and is not part of the current lawsuit.
The legislation remains controversial, having been enacted after Republican lawmakers overrode Gov. Mike DeWine’s 2023 veto. DeWine had expressed concerns after speaking with families of transgender youth and had suggested regulatory measures instead of a full ban.
There’s no timeline yet for when the Ohio Supreme Court will decide whether to hear the full case.
