Trans youth and their families in Ohio are grappling with the passage of HB68, a bill that prohibits access to medically necessary healthcare for transgender youth in Ohio. Following the righteous veto of the bill by Republican Governor DeWine, the legislature overrode the veto, which will allow the cruel bill to take effect 90 days later (around April 24, 2024). The bill allows youth who are Ohio residents accessing care in Ohio prior to the effect date to continue on that care – but since many families from Kentucky and surrounding states receive care in Ohio, the bill could lead to many families losing access.
In response, community advocates in Ohio, Kentucky, and beyond came together for a virtual event focused on helping families navigate the landscape of gender-affirming care while feeling supported and uplifted by their communities.
This special event was hosted on Thursday, January 25 from 6:00-7:00pm ET by Equality Ohio, Fairness Campaign, the Kaleidoscope Youth Center, Kentucky Health Justice Network, TransOhio, and the Campaign for Southern Equality.
At the event, we discussed resources available, including patient navigation support, information about in-state and out-of-state gender-affirming care, and $500 travel grants for families of transgender youth. Additionally, community partners shared about the resources available through their organizations.
