A man claimed that non-Christians who opposed House Bill 68 might be under the influence of devils during his testimony at an Ohio House hearing on the issue of whether transgender adolescents should have access to hormone treatments and operations.
Stuart Long, a Columbus resident, testified before the Ohio House Public Health Policy Committee that “the only thing that makes sense is demons are influencing people, allowing their bodies to be possessed to conduct demonic agendas… And if you can’t say Jesus Christ has come in the flesh, your body is possessed, most likely, by demons, or you haven’t invited him in.”
Rep. Beth Liston, a Democrat from Dublin, questioned whether Long was calling “our Hindu, Muslim, and Jewish members are demons.”
Long answered no, but warned that by rejecting Jesus Christ as their Savior, people left themselves vulnerable to demonic influences.
If you don’t agree with that, so to speak, or if you follow a different religion that doesn’t agree with it, Long added, “you’ve given access to non-godly entities to make your decisions.”
After that, Rep. Liston responded, “I will emphatically state that any opposition to this bill is not from possession by demons.”
The kind of medical treatments transgender minors in Ohio could receive would be limited under House Bill 68, which was undergoing its second hearing at the statehouse.
Surgery, hormones, and anti-puberty medications would all be prohibited until a person was 18. The law would give minors who are currently receiving hormone treatment 180 days to stop taking them or leave the state.
Additionally, it would allow Ohio’s attorney general to impose penalties on medical professionals who refer patients outside of the state.
