COLUMBUS, Ohio — The ruling was announced Tuesday evening that it’s now Ohio law to ban gender transition services for anyone under the age of 18.

What You Need To Know

  • Franklin County common pleas court judge rules to uphold HB 68, also known as the SAFE Act

  • HB 68 bans gender transition care for minors under the age of 18

  • Ohio attorney general, Dave Yost, is pleased with the court's decision to uphold the bill 

After weeks of deliberation, the decision ended up being in favor of Ohio’s legislature. 

“I think court got it right. You know, this is not an anti-trans bill. This is simply protection against irreversible changes, irrevocable decisions for children,” said Ohio Attorney General Dave Yost. 

AG Yost is passionate about House Bill 68. From the beginning, he was against allowing minors to use gender transition services because he firmly believes children aren’t ready to make life-changing decisions. 

“You’re still growing up and irrevocable decisions are not a good idea. The state’s got a right, I think, to protect the children of this state, and the court agreed,” said Yost. 

Transgender advocates have been very vocal about their opposition to the court’s decision. 

“One of the cruelest anti-trans laws that’s been passed in the country to date, composing a weird mixture of health care, sports and municipal courts legislation into one, under what the judge deemed, a single subject of controlling trans people,” said the Executive Director of Trans Ohio Dara Adkison. 

The Executive Director of Trans Ohio, Dara Adkison, rebuttals the state’s main argument during the trial, which was the use of hormone therapy being irreversible. 

“Puberty blockers, which are the opposite of an irreversible decision," Adkison said. "They're a pause. They give people space to think, literally the opposite of what they’re saying."

The ACLU filed for an appeal moments after the decision and announced that they will continue to fight for trans kids’ rights. Yost says he’s actually happy about the ACLU’s enthusiasm to keep fighting because this will take HB 68 to higher courts. 

“I was concerned they were going to leave this at this trial court level, which would have no precedential value," Yost said. "Now, we’re going to get a review by the appellate court and the Supreme Court. And I’m very optimistic that at the end of the day, Judge Holbrook’s well-reasoned decision is going to be upheld and House Bill 68 will continue to be the law of the land."

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