Ohio Judge reinstates FACE Act: “Gender-affirming care carries undeniable risk and permanent outcomes

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COLUMBUS — It was poetic justice the ACLU lost a case at the hands of its own hand-picked court. The Ohio SAFE Act, or House Bill 68 was reinstated last week. This common sense law safeguards women’s sports and outlaws puberty blockers and mutilation surgeries for minors. While left-wing activists call these controversial procedures gender-affirming care, the fact of the matter is, the science has not been settled on these experimental measures, and one judge pointed that out.

“The State of Ohio has a legitimate government interest in protecting the health and safety of its citizens,” said Franklin County Common Court of Pleas Judge Michael J. Holbrook. The SAFE Act “Is rationally related to this interest and is limited to minors. Moreover, the medical care banned carries with it undeniable risk and permanent outcomes. Indeed, countries once confident in the administration of gender-affirming care to minors are now reversing their position as a result of the significant inconsistencies in results and potential side effect of the care,” Judge Michael J. Holbrook stated in his ruling.

Governor Mike DeWine’s veto of the SAFE Act, H.B. 68 was overruled the Ohio Legislature by the members of the House and Senate. (Photo courtesy of screenshot)

The Save Adolescents From Experimentation (SAFE) Act protects children who are experiencing gender dysphoria from harmful irreversible sex change procedures, including chemical castration through puberty blockers, harmful opposite sex hormones that set the endocrine system at odds with their DNA, and invasive surgical procedures. The law also includes the Save Women’s Sports Act, which provides safeguards for women’s-only athletic competitions from kindergarten through college.

The Ohio SAFE Act passed overwhelmingly in both chambers, and after Governor Mike DeWine’s veto, the SAFE Act was legislatively ratified again by a three-fifths majority vote from the members of the House and Senate over the Governor’s veto.

If laws currently on the books protect children from alcohol, drugs, legally-binding contracts, and tattoos are recognized, the case can be made that the law should also protect kids from puberty blockers and mutilation surgeries.

State Representative Gary Click (R-Vickery), the primary sponsor of H.B. 68, was pleased with Judge Michael Holbrook’s ruling.

“Judge Michael Holbrook should be commended for following the facts of the law in his ruling today while we celebrate the excellent advocacy of Ohio’s Attorney General, Dave Yost. This has been a long hard fight to protect minors in the State of Ohio. Sex change procedures, including dangerous drug interventions and surgeries, are a failed experiment that has been harming children around the world. Today, the Franklin County Court of Common Please upheld the right of the people of Ohio to ban such radical and risky procedures through their duly elected representatives.” 

Ohio Attorney General Dave Yost filed an emergency motion with the Ohio Supreme Court in an attempt to stop a temporary restraining order against the SAFE Act. The State Supreme Court denied his motion, not on the merits of the law, but instead on legal distinctions of jurisdiction.

Ohio Attorney General David Yost believes if laws currently on the books protect children are recognized, the case can be made that the law should also protect kids from puberty blockers and mutilation surgeries. (Photo courtesy of Ohio AG website)

Click commented on the disparity between the SAFE Act’s widespread support and the fringe ACLU. “Despite the best efforts of the ACLU to shop for a friendly court, we learned that the facts matter, the law matters, the science matters, and above all, the voice of the people matters most. A strong cross-section of Ohioans, from both sides of the political aisle, of all races, including members of the LGBTQ community recognize that decisions like these are too consequential to be made for and by minors who are incapable of providing informed consent and they asked their legislature to do something about it. We did,” Click said.

The first-term legislator went on to say, “This decision inaugurates a new era of safety and protection not only for minors facing mental health challenges but also for our young women who deserve the full extent of their Title IX protections. No longer do female athletes have to fear losing a spot on the starting lineup to a young man, worry about unnecessary injuries due to unfair competition, or surrendering their medals and scholarships to young men.  Once again, we anticipate protecting their privacy in their own locker rooms.”

State Representative Click, who also serves as lead pastor in Fremont, Ohio is in the battle for the long haul. He adds, “We understand that the ACLU is likely to appeal. However, we are confident that that if they cannot prevail in their handpicked court neither are they likely to succeed in Ohio’s highest court. Not only do we trust the science, but we also trust the justice system to uphold this duly enacted law.” 

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