"Battle over Ohio Ballot Measure: Abortion Access vs. Parental Rights"

A proposed constitutional amendment on Ohio's fall ballot to protect abortion rights is being characterized by opponents as a threat to parental rights. Anti-abortion groups are using the campaign to test arguments over parental rights and gender-related health care as a counterpunch. Legal experts disagree over the potential impact on parental control, with opponents focusing on the amendment's wording and claiming it could allow minors to end pregnancies without parental permission or have sex change surgeries without parental consent. Ohio already has a parental consent law, and supporters of the amendment argue that parents would retain the right to be involved in reproductive decisions if the amendment is approved.