Ohio court blocks ban on transgender minors' medical treatments

An Ohio appeals court has put a temporary hold on a law that bans transgender minors from accessing hormones and puberty blockers. The decision comes from a three-judge panel of the Tenth District Court of Appeals. They reversed an earlier ruling that allowed the law to take effect in August. The ACLU of Ohio welcomed the court's ruling. Legal director Freda Levenson said it restores vital healthcare rights for transgender youth with parental and medical support. The law, known as House Bill 68, also prohibited transgender girls from competing on female sports teams. Republican lawmakers passed the bill despite Governor Mike DeWine's veto, which stated that such decisions should be made by families. The ACLU then filed a lawsuit on behalf of two transgender minors, claiming the law violated Ohio's rules about legislative topics. However, a lower court upheld that the law had a common purpose related to regulating transgender individuals. The appellate court did agree with the lower court on one issue but disagreed regarding parental rights. They concluded that the law’s strict ban on parental access to medical care was too broad and did not serve the state's interest in protecting children. Ohio’s Attorney General, Dave Yost, announced plans to appeal the decision to the Ohio Supreme Court, which has a Republican majority. He expressed his determination to continue fighting against what he describes as harmful medical interventions for minors.