Letter to the editor: Support the legal civil rights of LGBTQ+ kids and their families
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Regarding the recent Repository articles, ''Ohio House overrides DeWine veto of transgender health care, athlete bill'' (Jan. 12) and ''Stark County Board of Elections rejects ballot appeal for transgender candidate'' (Jan. 11), I am very frustrated and heartbroken by these transphobic politicians and policies and hope the Ohio Senate votes differently.
It's so important that anyone making policy decisions about transgender lives should actually talk to the people in the LGBTQ+ community and the medical personnel who provide this care, which is probably why Gov. Mike DeWine initially vetoed HB 68.
No Ohioan should have to leave the state to receive lifesaving, gender-affirming medical care. If conservative Republicans want to continue with the lie of protecting children by ending policies of diversity, equity and inclusion, and implementing book bans, while they ignore gun violence and mass shootings, or global warming, then I think it's fair to question them and vote them out.
In addition, any lawmaker could question medical care for minors, such as parents or guardians who refuse medical care for their children based on religious beliefs, who deny them beneficial vaccinations, blood transfusions, or insist on male circumcision or female genital mutilation.
What about parents who support cosmetic procedures on their kids like tattoos, ear or body piercings, breast augmentation, rhinoplasty, liposuction, or botulinum toxin injections? Now do you understand why medical care should be private and not face government bans?
As far as gender separation of male and female sports, just make them co-ed, problem solved. As for the Stark County Democratic candidate who identifies as transgender, just amend the name-change law to exempt transgender candidates so they can immediately run for public office.
Finally, please consider voting for Democratic candidates to stop all these bans and to support the legal civil rights of LGBTQ+ kids and their families.
Nancy Dollard, Lake Township
This article originally appeared on The Repository: Letter to the editor: Support legal civil rights of LGBTQ+ kids
