An Ohio appeals court has ruled to partially overturn a state ban on gender-affirming medical care for LGBTQ+ youth, allowing doctors to continue prescribing puberty blockers and hormone therapy. The 10th District Court of Appeals determined that the ban interferes with parents’ rights to make medical decisions for their children, sending the case back to the Franklin County Court of Common Pleas for further proceedings.
In its decision, the court stated that restricting access to hormone blockers for transgender minors violates the Health Care Freedom Amendment in the Ohio Constitution. “It impermissibly prohibits parents, acting on behalf of their minor children, from accessing treatment protocols in accordance with the standards of care and guidelines widely accepted in the professional medical community to treat gender dysphoria in minors,” the ruling reads.
Ohio Attorney General Dave Yost swiftly announced plans to appeal the decision. “This is a no-brainer – we are appealing that decision and will seek an immediate stay. There is no way I’ll stop fighting to protect these unprotected children,” Yost said. “Ohio’s elected representatives properly passed legislation protecting children from irreversible chemical sex change procedures, and the trial court upheld the law. But now the 10th District Court of Appeals has just greenlighted these permanent medical interventions against minors.”
The American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) has yet to issue a statement on the ruling.
The legal challenge centers on House Bill 68, a law that took effect in 2024 and barred LGBTQ+ minors from receiving gender-affirming care, including hormone therapy, hormone blockers, and certain mental health services. The legislation also banned transgender student-athletes from competing on teams that align with their gender identity—a provision that remains blocked under the latest ruling.
During hearings in July 2024, parents and medical professionals testified against the law, arguing that it would “deny basic human rights” to transgender youth. The case is expected to continue through the courts as legal battles over gender-affirming care persist nationwide.