Thursday, May 26, 9:30am-5pm, Ohio Statehouse

Join us at the Ohio Statehouse in Columbus, Ohio, beginning at 9:30am on Thursday, May 26, to support trans youth. Everyone deserves access to appropriate, competent, and safe gender-affirming medical care, regardless of age or gender identity.

In Ohio, the proposed H.B. 454 would prevent trans youth (and only trans youth) under 18 from receiving gender-affirming care, regardless of parental consent, length of doctor-patient relationship, medical history, diagnoses, current care plan, or standards of care and best practices. This proposed legislation is an extreme attack on affirming mental and medical care for trans, non-binary, and gender non-confirming children and adolescents, in violation of the Affordable Care Act and at odds with recommendations from the American Academy of Pediatricians, the Endocrine Society, the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry (AACAP), and the American Psychiatric Association (APA), which all cite gender-affirming care as evidence-based patient care. All major hospital systems in Ohio oppose this legislation, and LGBTQ people — especially trans people — already face disproportional discrimination and unnecessary barriers in healthcare.

This unconstitutional and unnecessary bill:

• Does not apply to cisgender (not trans) persons seeking the same or substantially similar care

• Does not apply to intersex persons or prevent the unnecessary, often coerced genital surgery of intersex infants and toddlers

• Forbids medical healthcare professionals from providing gender-affirming or any transitional care to trans, non-binary, or gender non-confirming (GNC) persons under 18 years old under any circumstances

• Forbids insurance from covering medically necessary care for trans, non-binary, or GNC minors, contrary to the Affordable Care Act, Medicaid and Medicare policies, and individual provider policies

• Forbids tax deductions for health care premiums for transitional care, contrary to the federal Tax Code

• Revokes medical licenses of Ohio providers for following current standards of care, despite there being no action from the disciplinary committees of Ohio licensing boards

• Requires staff at all Ohio schools to “out” students who they assume are transgender to their parents or legal guardians

In addition to hearing testimony on the trans youth medical ban for the third time with no chance for oppositional testimony from people like you, lawmakers will hear testimony on a bill that will further restrict reproductive health in Ohio. The committee will begin at 9am on Thursday, May 26; however, the hearing on H.B. 454 will likely be heard last. Please come to the Ohio Statehouse if you are able and make your voice heard. Signs and flags are encouraged!

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