Senate Government Oversight Committee
HB 68 – Opponent Testimony
December 6, 2023
CJ Murphy
Administrative and Fiscal Associate
Children’s Defense Fund-Ohio
Chairperson Roegner, Vice Chair Antani, Ranking Member Hicks-Hudson, and members Lang and McColley, thank you for this opportunity to provide testimony on behalf of Children’s Defense Fund Ohio in opposition to House Bill 68, regarding gender affirming care for youth and youth participation in their chosen extracurricular activities.
CDF Ohio is a statewide non-profit organization which serves as an independent voice for all children. Born out of the civil rights movement, with more than four decades of advocacy on behalf of Ohio’s children, it is the mission of the Children’s Defense Fund to champion policies and programs that lift children out of poverty, protect them from abuse and neglect, and ensure their access to health care, quality education, and nutritional wellness.
Should House Bill 68 be enacted as law, it would cause irreparable harm to some of Ohio’s most vulnerable children and youth. Gender-affirming care spans a wide range of practices (medical, behavioral, social, etc.) and has been proven to save the lives of those who seek this care. A big part of this includes allowing children and youth to participate as their authentic selves in their chosen extracurricular activities, which this bill would prohibit. Additionally, medical professionals have repeatedly stated that providing young people with puberty blockers is safe and that no one is performing any surgery on minors that is not medically necessary.
Looking at the big picture, it becomes clear that this legislation isn’t about protecting children and youth. In fact, House Bill 68 is about providing a legal way to not only restrict the rights of trans and gender non-conforming youth, but to also shout to the world that you abhor those who go throughout this life differently than you.
You have an opportunity here: show that you care, truly care, about protecting, trusting, and valuing every Ohioan and reject this bill.