by Jack Windsor
Morgan Keller was a gender-dysphoric female when she was sold a bill of goods wholly different than what she received when she was given synthetic testosterone treatment and weeks later had both of her breasts carved off her chest.
Keller (pictured above) shared her story at the Ohio Statehouse talking in support of Ohio House Bill 68 (HB 68) – legislation aimed at both protecting women’s sports from males and barring drugs and surgeries for minors who begin transitioning to a sex opposite that of their birth.
Gender-affirming care—that’s what Keller’s drugs and surgery were pitched as by doctors who she said were confident in their prescriptions to her mental illness that was one of the catalysts of her belief that she didn’t belong in her female body. The care was portrayed as a cure-all for the litany of other comorbidities the Ohio woman says doctors didn’t bother to inquire about or address.
Keller’s parents were told what purveyors of puberty blockers, hormones and gender mutilation surgeries often claim: the only hope of having a happy, healthy, alive child is to provide gender-affirming care.
During her compelling and heart-wrenching testimony before the Ohio Senate Government Oversight Committee on Tuesday, the 26-year-old said gender-affirming care is not based on love or care and that not transitioning was never presented to her as an option. Keller said she needed help, not advice from medical providers who were bent only on affirming her delusion.
“I wish I had been told ‘no’ by the practitioners I trusted. I wish I could say I’m the exception to the rule but everybody in this room knows that is false. I come to you wearing the scars of this medical scandal,” Keller said.
U.S. Senator J.D. Vance (R-OH) tweeted a video of Keller’s talk saying, “This is extraordinary testimony about how we’re medicalizing mental health problems under the euphemism of “gender affirming” care. I’ve introduced legislation that would stop this practice. As a society we need to come to our senses.”
This is extraordinary testimony about how we’re medicalizing mental health problems under the euphemism of “gender affirming” care.
I’ve introduced legislation that would stop this practice. As a society we need to come to our senses. pic.twitter.com/HXu9VCXKSl
— J.D. Vance (@JDVance1) November 28, 2023
The testimony was featured on a segment of The Bruce Hooley Show in Columbus Wednesday morning as was a conversation with Ohio State Representative Gary Click (R-Vickery), the primary sponsor of HB 68.
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Jack Windsor is the editor-in-chief of The Ohio Press Network.
