BREAKING: Ohio governor VETOES bill to ban child sex changes to ‘protect human life’

The Republican leader argued that the bill would have had a negative impact on children who face gender dysphoria, and that in certain instances, sex change procedures are necessary for minors.

"This bill would impact a very small number of Ohio's children, but for those children who face gender dysphoria, the consequences of this bill could not be more profound," DeWine said during a news conference on Friday, per the Washington Post.

"Ultimately I believe this is about protecting human life. Many parents have told me that their child would not have survived, would be dead today, if they had not received the treatment they received from one of Ohio’s children’s hospitals."

"These are gut-wrenching decisions that should be made by parents and should be informed by teams of doctors who are advising them," DeWine continued. "Were I to sign House Bill 68, or were House Bill 68 to become law, Ohio would be saying that the state, that the government knows better what is medically best for a child than the two people who love that child the most: The parents."

The bill would have put an end to the practice of doctors medically stopping puberty via puberty blockers, prescribing cross-sex hormones, and encouraging children who allegedly believe they are born in the wrong body from attempting to medically alter themselves to appear more like the opposite sex.

It would also have protected women's sports by preventing biological males from competing against females.

In the weeks prior to DeWine's decision, those for and against the bill passionately defended their positions, with testimony being heard by lawmakers up until Thursday.

This is a breaking story and will be updated.