Ohio trans athlete, healthcare ban to appear in court Monday

COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) — On Monday morning, the trial will begin for what’s become a highly controversial law.

Both the “Saving Adolescents from Experimentation (SAFE)” and Women’s Sports Sport Act were supposed to go into effect in April, but are currently on pause by Franklin County Judge.

“We have a responsibility as a society, a moral responsibility to protect. Kids are our greatest asset,” President of Ohio Right to Life Mike Gonidakis said.

“We want to make sure Ohio is home for everyone, whether they are cisgender or transgender,” Sam Shim, part of the Parent’s Group for Trans Allies of Ohio said. “This should be home for all.”

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Shim said the enactment of this law is “personal for (his) family.” He said he has a transgender child who would be impacted by the SAFE Act, and said the law gives his family, and many others, pause.

“I think if this law is upheld, we have to make some tough choices,” Shim said. “Do we wait till we’re 18 to seek gender affirming care or do we choose to go to another state, or do we choose to move?”

The SAFE Act aims to ban minors from receiving gender affirming care, like hormone blockers, in Ohio. It also does things like prohibit a mental health professional from diagnosing a minor for a gender-related condition without screening the minor for other things like abuse. Gonidakis said this law takes the state in the right direction.

“Five, six, seven-year-old boys and girls used to be talking about playing with their toys or going outside having fun, not these life changing decisions,” he said. “You set these laws in place now, not just for the here and now, but for the future as well.”

“Kids aren’t making this these decisions, they’re not of legal age. They’re not 18. So, it’s the parents and the medical doctors that make these decisions,” Shim said.

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The second part of the law, which is not the focus of the lawsuit, bans transgender athletes, at middle school, high school and college levels, from playing on teams that align with their gender identity. Gonidakis said he feels this law will protect athletes like his daughter.

“My daughter’s going to be a senior next year. She’s an athlete, and she should not have to be competing against boys,” Gonidakis said. “This law ensures girls play girl sports and boys play boy sports.”

The lawsuit that is being heard next week could result in the law being completely thrown out, or it could become enacted.

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“Seeing the governor’s veto being over overrode was kind of very disheartening,” Shim said. “And now we have a lawsuit. So, we’re cautiously optimistic.”

“Ultimately, this will probably get through the Ohio Supreme Court. And we’re very confident that the Ohio Supreme Court will uphold the law as is,” Gonidakis said.

The trial begins at 9 a.m. Monday at the Franklin County Court of Common Pleas.

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