‘I’m so scared for my friends’: trans kids on Ohio’s ban on gender-affirming care

Families who fought for children's healthcare rights say they are considering leaving the state

Last week, the Ohio legislature voted to override the Republican governor Mike DeWine's veto of HB68, a bill that would ban gender-affirming care for trans youth. The veto marks the end of a yearlong effort by LGBTQ+ activists to block HB68's passage. Starting this April, Ohio doctors are prohibited from prescribing puberty blockers or hormone therapy to any trans patient under 18.

Ohio is now the 23rd state to pass restrictions on trans healthcare for minors (though courts have blocked a handful of those measures). It could also become the second state to restrict care for adults, through draft rules are currently open to comments from the public.