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‘Jeopardy!’ Superstar Amy Schneider Testifies Against Proposed Anti-Trans Youth Bill in Ohio

Jason A. Michael

“Jeopardy!” super champ and 2022 Tournament of Champions finalist Amy Schneider testified before a committee of the Ohio House of Representatives on Wednesday. The committee was discussing a bill that would restrict gender-affirming medical care for minors. Schneider, an Ohio native originally from Dayton, told the committee that the Save Adolescents From Experimentation (SAFE) Act would put trans kids “in grave danger, and a danger that not all of them would survive.”

SAFE, also known as House Bill 454, would potentially punish doctors for providing services to minors such as prescribing puberty blockers, offering hormone replacement therapy or performing any gender confirming surgeries. Schneider spoke candidly about her personal experience and the importance of these treatments to trans people.

She pointed out that although her life has changed dramatically for the better over the past year — she won over $1 million on “Jeopardy,” got married and was able to visit the White House, throw the first pitch out at multiple major league baseballs games, etc. — but that her success would mean nothing to her without being able to continue treatment.

“If all those things remained just as they are now, and the only thing that was changed was that I was told that I could no longer access hormone therapy, I don’t know that I could go on living," Schneider told the committee.

Schneider was invited to testify at the committee meeting by Equality Ohio, representatives of which accompanied her and also spoke along with about 10 others. The newly minted millionaire was impassioned as she spoke.

“I’m not asking anyone here to change your personal views on trans people,” she said. “I’m not here to scold anyone about pronouns. I’m not asking you to do anything except to not pass a ban that is expanding the government’s reach, to not restrict the freedom of families and doctors and communities to decide for themselves what their children need."

When asked by Rep. Latyna Humphrey if she had ever regretted receiving such services, Schneider said no. “It has improved my life in ways I didn’t know it was going to,” she said, adding that the treatment helped her to learn who she was. “I wouldn’t be here today. In fact, if I hadn’t gotten that, I wouldn’t have been successful on “Jeopardy!” I would have any of the things going for me right now.”

Schneider, in fact, has a great deal going for her right now. As of Friday, she was tied with contestant Andrew He at two games a piece in a best of seven Tournament of Champions series. If she racks up another win tonight, she’ll win the tournament and take home another $250K. Previously, Schneider earned over $1.3 million in her 40-game winning streak, placing her second in consecutive wins to Ken Jennings, the show’s current host.

I just finished testifying against SB 454 in Columbus. Thanks to @EqualityOhio for asking me here; whatever the outcome of this bill, I’m glad to have had the chance to stand up for the safety of trans youth pic.twitter.com/RMAba4DKuw

— Amy Schneider (@Jeopardamy) November 16, 2022
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