COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCHS) — It's been a busy few days for Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine. Last Friday he went against his own party and vetoed a controversial transgender bill passed by the Republican-dominated Legislature.

Wednesday, the governor spoke with Eyewitness News about his choice to veto House Bill 68, known as the SAFE Act. The measure would ban gender-reassignment treatments for minors and block men who become women from competing in female sports.

"I want a civil discussion," DeWine said of gender reassignment treatments."Parents many times look me in the eye and said, 'Governor, my child would not be alive today. They would have taken their life but for the ability to participate in this program.' For me that was very telling,"

DeWine is signing an Executive Order to make sure Ohio hospitals do not perform transgender surgeries while also creating state standards for mental health treatments for both minor and adult transgender people.

The governor said while he opposes some portions of the bill, there are others that he agrees with.

"The part of the bill that had to do with sports, I didn't look at that," DeWine said. "We will certainly get to that. I don't favor having a male who transitions to a female and gets into sports like that inter-collegiate swimmer who was beating all the girls. No one wants to see that."

The Ohio Legislature convenes Jan. 10, and the House Bill 68 veto is expected to be high on the agenda.

"I stand by my decision, but I also believe and say again publicly the people on the other side of this issue also care about kids and they are basing their decision on what they think is best for kids. I happen to disagree," DeWine added.