To the editor:
What has happened to Gov. Mike DeWine that caused him to veto HB 68 and say what he said at his press conference?
Gender dysphoria affirming medical treatment is as much of a political ideology and fad as it is a mental illness. Transgender social media influencer Blaire White will confirm gender dysphoria is a mental illness that has been turned into a political issue by liberal activists. These are liberal activists from the upper middle-class suburbs who want to be the most liberal ideologically woke parent(s) on their street.
There is a child mental health crisis in the United States. According to experts, today's teenagers have more anxiety than mental patients of the 1950s. Mental disorders such as depression, self-harm and gender dysphoria are at all-time highs among teens. All mental illnesses should be treated with counseling. Then parents, counselors and psychiatrists can make decisions on a treatment plan.
In his press conference, DeWine mentioned the opinions from doctors and hospitals. Doctors, hospitals and pharmaceutical companies support gender dysphoria affirming treatment, because it creates patients and customers for life. Patients must return for prescriptions, check-ups and surgeries.
De-transitioning, going back to biological gender, is not as easy as DeWine made it sound. It, too, requires medical treatment. This keeps the income stream going for years for doctors, hospitals, pharmaceutical companies and insurance companies.
DeWine said, 'This is about life' parents told him 'Some children would not be here if not for treatments.' On March 20, the National Library of Medicine published an article that says research shows no statistical difference in the suicidal thoughts and attempts of people who have transition treatment and people who do not have gender dysphoria affirming treatment.
HB 68 had a protect women's sports aspect. Biological males have more fast-twitch muscle fibers, higher lung capacity and more bone density to name a few things that give men a biological advantage over biological women in sports. That is why males who were mediocre versus other males dominate female sports after they identify as female. Females who work hard their entire lives for scholarships and awards should not have those dreams taken away by a biological male.
European nations took a liberal approach to trans kids for years. Countries that allowed the liberal use of puberty blockers, estrogen treatments, testosterone blockers and surgeries found out there are complications. There also comes a point when the effects of the treatments are irreversible. In recent years European nations have been reversing their stance on the liberal use of puberty blockers, estrogen and testosterone treatments, and sex change surgery for minors.
Ohio law does not allow children to smoke, drink alcohol or vote because their minds have not developed enough to make these decisions. We should not allow children to make decisions that will have lifelong consequences for their health. We should absolutely be treating the mental illness crisis that is giving children anxiety, depression, self-harm behaviors and gender dysphoria.
John R. Morrow
Liverpool Township