Amy Schneider, ‘Jeopardy’ champion, to testify against Ohio bill prohibiting transgender youth from medical care for transitions

Matt Amodio, Amy Schneider and Mattea Roach in the “Jeopardy!” Tournament of Champions. Schneider is expected to testify Wednesday against an Ohio House bill prohibiting people under the age of 18 from obtaining transition care.

COLUMBUS, Ohio – Amy Schneider, the “Jeopardy” super champion, will testify Wednesday at an Ohio legislative hearing in opposition to a bill that would prohibit people under age 18 from obtaining puberty-blocking drugs, hormone therapy and surgeries to transition genders.

Schneider, an Ohio native and transgender woman, will testify against House Bill 454 alongside representatives from Equality Ohio. Schneider rose to fame earlier this year when she finished a 40-game run on “Jeopardy” that vaulted her to second on the show’s all-time list of consecutive game winners.

“It’s so important that LGBTQ+ Ohioans and those who love them fight to protect the children whose health and safety would be endangered by this misguided legislation,” she said in a statement from Equality Ohio.

HB 454 would halt all gender-affirming care to transgender youth —even if parents consent to allowing their children to begin transitioning. About a quarter of the members of the Ohio House are sponsoring the bill, dubbed the Save Adolescents from Experimentation (SAFE) Act.

The bill would prevent gender-affirming care by:

-Potentially sanctioning the licenses of medical professionals who provide gender transition procedures to any minor.

-Potentially cutting public funds to any hospital, clinic or medical professional who provides minors transitioning medical services.

-Prohibiting private insurance and Ohio Medicaid from reimbursing hospitals, clinics and health care professionals for transition procedures of minors.

Furthermore, the bill would require schools to potentially out transgender students to their parents. It includes provisions:

-A nurse, counselor, teacher, principal or any other official at a public or private school cannot withhold from parents or guardians that the child’s identity is inconsistent with their biological sex.

-These professionals cannot encourage or coerce a student to withhold this information from their parents or guardians.

If any of the medical or school professionals violate provisions in the bill, they could be sued in civil court. The Ohio attorney general also may file a suit against someone in violation.

The bill is in the Ohio House Families, Aging, and Human Services Committee, which next meets at 10 a.m. Wednesday.