Ohio Gov. DeWine signs executive order banning sex-change surgery for minors

Ohio GOP Gov. Mike DeWine signed an executive order on Friday, banning sex-change surgeries for minors, after recently vetoing a bill that would have banned all gender-affirming care for those under 18.

“A week has gone by, and I still feel just as firmly as I did that day,” DeWine said at a news conference, according to NBC News. “I believe the parents, not the government, should be making these crucial decisions for their children.”

This executive order forbids healthcare professionals from performing sex-change surgeries on minors, who can still receive puberty blockers or cross-sex hormones.

“This ban is effective immediately," DeWine said. "Ohio law allows for emergency rules, so that provision is important to public safety and other important public policy goals specified in the statute. This will ensure that surgeries of this type on minors can never happen in Ohio. I know that’s one of the concerns that has been expressed. I’ve never disagreed with that."

Ohio and Arizona are now the two states that specifically ban sex-change surgeries for minors.

DeWine was highly criticized by fellow Republicans after vetoing legislation last week that would have banned all gender-affirming care for minors and kept transgender athletes out of women's sports.

"DeWine has fallen to the Radical Left," former President Donald Trump wrote on his TRUTH Social platform. "No wonder he gets loudly booed in Ohio every time I introduce him at Rallies, but I won’t be introducing him any more. I’m finished with this 'stiff.' What was he thinking? The bill would have stopped child mutilation, and prevented men from playing in women’s sports."