Fact checking the Senate Leadership Fund’s ad that says Brown supports sex change surgery for kids

Ohio PoliticsAn ad paid for by the Senate Leadership Fund claims Brown supports "sex change surgery for minors," citing comments he made in 2023 about a proposed federal ban on gender-affirming care for transgender youth.Senate Leadership Fund PACBy Mary Frances McGowan, cleveland.comCLEVELAND, Ohio -- Senate Leadership Fund is airing a television ad attacking former Democratic Sen. Sherrod Brown as he challenges Republican Sen. Jon Husted in Ohio’s 2026 U.S. Senate race.The ad claims Brown supports “sex change surgery for minors,” citing comments he made in 2023 about a proposed federal ban on gender-affirming care for transgender youth.MORE BY MARY FRANCES MCGOWANWe’re fact-checking the claim and examining the interview the ad uses to support its accusation.Readers told Editor Chris Quinn that this year’s crop of political attack ads are among the most detestable they’ve ever seen. Now, we’re making social media videos to call out the lies and detail the truth.If you have any insights on the claims in this ad against Brown, you can weigh in in the comments below or contact reporter Mary Frances McGowan at mmcgowan@cleveland.com.Mary Frances McGowan is a statehouse reporter for Cleveland.com covering politics and policy with a focus on heath policy, abortion and reproductive health policy, LGBTQ issues, cannabis policy and Cuyahoga...