DeWine wants rules for treatment for trans kids in Ohio. Lawmakers may override his veto instead

When Gov. Mike DeWine vetoed a bill that would have banned trans kids from receiving gender transition treatments or playing on girls’ sports teams, he also said he wants administrative rules drawn to ban gender reassignment surgeries on children under 18. But there's a question about whether Ohio lawmakers will cooperate with DeWine in that effort.

On Friday when DeWine vetoed the bill, he said he agreed with state lawmakers that gender reassignment surgeries should not be done on kids - which hospitals say isn’t happening. But he said when he talked with families who were imploring him to veto the bill, none of their children under 18 had gone through any of those surgeries.

“All of the children’s hospitals say, ‘we don’t do surgeries.’ Look, let’s make sure there are no surgeries done my anybody and so that’s what we propose here," DeWine said.

DeWine proposed drafting a rule through the state’s administrative agencies to ban gender reassignment surgeries on minors. But DeWine also wants more information about medical care for trans kids, saying he’s concerned they might not get the care they need in the future.