23 Year Old Cam Ogden is Fighting for Trans Youth in Ohio

Behind the fight against HB 68, the ban gender-affirming care for youth in Ohio.

by Evan Urquhart

Last week the governor of Ohio, Mike DeWine, vetoed HB 68, a bill banning gender-affirming care for young trans people in his state. While the threat of a veto override hovers over the process, making the ultimate outcome in Ohio unclear, a veto from a staunch, pro-life Republican governor represents a rare win for the trans community in a state controlled by conservatives. One of the people closely involved in organizing against the bill is Cam Ogden, a 23 year old trans woman and the founder of Trans Allies of Ohio. I spoke with Ogden about her efforts, the state of play in Ohio, and what lessons might be taken from Ohio going forward.

(This interview has been lightly edited and condensed.)

Cam Ogden

Assigned Media: Tell me a little bit about how care bans came on the radar in Ohio?

Cam Ogden: The effort to ban gender-affirming care, behind the scenes, started in the spring of 2021 when the Center for Christian Virtue started looking for a state representative to carry the legislation in Ohio. They didn’t write the bill, that was the Alliance Defending Freedom, so it went from the ADF to the CCV and then it was introduced to the legislature by Gary Click in October of 2022. That’s when I first got interested in the dialogue, and I reached out to Click in February of 2022 and was the first trans person he had ever spoken to. 

AM: Oh, wow, you’ve spoken to him. What’s he like?

Ogden: He’s a very unpopular figure in the legislature. I will just say that there are many people I disagree with on a political level, and many, if you speak with them, will at least treat trans people with respect. Representative Click is not one of those people.

AM: Right now we don’t yet know if there will be a veto-override, but I think it’s safe to say that activism in Ohio has been very effective in pushing back against this bill. What do you think has made the most difference?

Ogden: There are a couple of things. Number one is that Ohio is the first state to have more detransitioners testify against the ban instead of for it. I don’t know if there are detransitioners who have testified against these bans in other states, I’d have to research and find out, but I know it’s the first state where detransitioners testifying in opposition outnumbers those in support. I haven’t been super involved, I only know a couple of them and I couldn’t tell you exactly how that was organized, but I can tell you it was very appreciated.

Second is that we have an extremely high quality of pediatric children’s hospitals in Ohio, with five of the six we have considered the best in the nation. Those hospital administrators who we celebrate on any other day being willing to stand up for trans youth, and the fact that this could force providers to leave was really important.

AM: Let’s talk about the veto override chances. Is there anything you can share about why a veto is or isn’t likely, and why?

Ogden: The Ohio state government has been continually shown by voters that they don’t appreciate it when the legislature tries to take control over their private lives. Ohio voters don’t want Ron DeSantis telling the legislature what to do, and the rebukes from the voters on issues like legalizing marijuana and protecting reproductive rights have made that clear. Ohio is not Florida. I think it’s a close call.

It makes a difference that they cannot call DeWine a rhino, and in his speech he called [vetoing the ban] the pro-life position, and talked about it as an issue of parents rights. Democrats have been saying “Oh, what about parents’ rights?” but [Republicans] can just ignore that. It’s different when it’s a conservative Republican saying this is about parents’ rights, and it’s pro-life.

AM: Whatever happens, your efforts have been truly inspiring. What would you say to someone who wants to be more involved in fighting anti-trans legislation in their state but doesn’t know where to get started?

Ogden: It really depends on the situation in your state. In a blue state, you can build resources for people fleeing, making sure they can have a safe place to go and get connected with the care they need.

In deep red states community care is what gets our community through things. Look to abortion funds, how they get people out of state to access care, and look at the spaces in the area where you’re at, figure out what trans youth are saying, what they need.

And, in bubble states, well, Ohio might be the only bubble state left, but show up, go to the legislature, and show up with the intent of making space for others to show up. These spaces are intentionally intimidating, so to mount a resistance you need to take that space back, make it feel safer for marginalized people to show up.