GOP governor vetoes several anti-LGBTQ+ measures while letting others become law

[Jessica_Rose]

GOP governor vetoes several anti-LGBTQ+ measures while letting others become law

https://www.lgbtqnation.com/2025/07/gop-governor-vetoes-several-anti-lgbtq-measures-while-letting-others-become-law/

Greg Owen (1 July 2025)

Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine (R) vetoed three anti-LGBTQ+ provisions in the state's latest budget bill yesterday, in a partial victory for civil rights that still leaves several assaults on LGBTQ+ identity signed into law.

The budget passed by Republicans over Democrats' objections included a raft of measures targeting the LGBTQ+ community, including a prohibition on flying the Pride flag on state property; defunding shelters that welcome trans youth; language defining sex in the state as binary; removing library books related to sexual orientation or gender identity from areas accessed by minors; and denying Medicaid funding for mental health services for transgender people.

DeWine vetoed the prohibition on the Pride flag, the defunding of youth shelters, and the mandate on library materials.

DeWine, a lifelong conservative and former United States senator, was circumspect in explaining the reasoning behind his vetoes.

On the subject of youth shelters, DeWine told reporters, "We want homeless shelters to be open for everyone. That's kind of it."

Of the library provision, which ordered books addressing LGBTQ+ identity kept "out of sight" of minors, the governor said, "As parents or grandparents, no one wants their child to have a book or something that is inappropriate, something that is obscene. But I just felt that the language did not work."