COLUMBUS, Ohio — The plaintiffs rested their case in the SAFE Act trial after presenting five witnesses to the judge.

What You Need To Know

  • The plaintiffs rested their case in the HB 68 (SAFE Act) trial Tuesday

  • Two expert witnesses testified Tuesday, an endocrinologist and a bioethicist, both from Cincinnati Children's Hospital

  • Wednesday, the defense will call their first witness of five to the stand to testify

The morning started with testimony from Dr. Sarah Carothers, an endocrinologist from Cincinnati Children’s Hospital who says she has treated hundreds of adolescents with puberty blockers and hormone therapy. But the state’s cross examination of her got heated, as they questioned her impartiality with this case and how she communicates with parents.

“I believe gender transition hormone therapy, when it’s medically indicated, can be of significant benefit to health and also recognize that young people have many things going on in their lives. So there may be other challenges either unrelated or somewhat related to their gender dysphoria that still give them cause to struggle,” said expert witness and endocrinologist from Cincinnati Children’s Hospital, Dr. Sarah Carothers. 

Following the endocrinologist was another expert witness, Dr. Armand Antommaria, a bioethicist also from Cincinnati Children’s Hospital, and his testimony focused on ethics behind gender transition care and gender dysphoria. Rounding out the testimony was one of the plaintiffs who is the father of a transgender child, going by the pseudonym Michael Moe. He shared with the courtroom that his child, who was born male, showed signs as early as age three years old that she wants to be a girl.

“There are significant signs. In particular, she was saying things like, 'Why did God make me like this? I wish I could die and just be reborn. I wish I could die and be reborn as a girl. I wish I could die and be put into a different body.' She was saying these things repeatedly over the course of first grade and even before that in kindergarten,” said Moe. 

The cross examination questioned Moe about his family’s process of getting their daughter puberty blockers and even how they became plaintiffs in the case.

“Our job is to fight for all Ohio families dealing with this situation, both regarding medical issues for minors and making sure that they’re protected,” said deputy attorney general for the Ohio attorney general’s office, Erik Clark. 

Starting Wednesday morning, the defense will call its first of five witnesses to the stand to testify.