(Liberal Voice Network) – The Republican-controlled Kentucky Legislature successfully overrode the veto of Democratic Governor Andy Beshear on a comprehensive anti-trans bill. The bill, known as SB 150, targets various aspects of transgender youths’ lives, including access to gender-affirming care and bathroom usage based on gender identity. Despite Gov. Beshear’s concerns about excessive government interference in personal healthcare and the bill’s impact on transgender youth, Republican lawmakers in both the Statehouse and the Senate pushed the bill through, asserting that it strengthens parental engagement and protects children’s safety.
SB 150, considered one of the most extreme anti-trans bills in the nation, encompasses multiple restrictions on the autonomy of transgender youth and limits discussions of sexual orientation and gender identity in schools. It grants teachers the right to refuse to use transgender students’ correct pronouns. While most provisions go into effect immediately, the ban on gender-affirming care will begin in late June. Advocates have already indicated their intention to file a lawsuit to challenge the bill before the summer.
Kentucky’s anti-trans bill is part of a larger trend, with over 470 anti-LGBTQ bills introduced in state legislatures this year. Late on Wednesday, West Virginia Governor Jim Justice also signed a bill prohibiting gender-affirming care, bringing the total number of states with such restrictions to more than a dozen. These laws run counter to the recommendations of major medical associations. Despite efforts from vocal Democrats to prevent limitations on gender-affirming care, several anti-trans bills were introduced in Kentucky.
State Senator Karen Berg, a Democrat and physician, passionately advocated for protecting youth access to gender-affirming care, drawing from her personal experience as her son, transgender rights advocate Henry Berg-Brousseau, tragically died by suicide in December. Berg highlighted the rise of anti-trans extremist rhetoric and the role of legislation in exacerbating the situation. She implored trans youth not to lose hope and to continue advocating for their rights.
The bill faced opposition from only four Republicans, including State Senator Danny Carroll, who recounted the story of a young trans girl experiencing suicidal ideation due to the inability to transition. Carroll emphasized the importance of trusting medical professionals to make the right decisions and acknowledged that even if the bill made a difference for just one person, it would be worthwhile.
In the vicinity of the legislative chambers, a large gathering of Kentucky students voiced their dissent towards the bill through resounding chants of “Shame!” Students who had walked out of school gathered on the steps of the capitol building in Frankfort, accompanied by a few Democratic lawmakers who supported their cause. The American Civil Liberties Union of Kentucky has already indicated its readiness to challenge the law in court, emphasizing its commitment to trans youth and the families who may be forced to leave the state for their safety.
The impacts of the bill are far-reaching and alarming, according to Angela Cooper, the communications director at the ACLU of Kentucky. She describes the effects as both reprehensible and innumerable, highlighting the danger of taking away social supports and medically proven interventions for trans kids. Cooper also mentions the families in Kentucky who may be compelled to relocate to ensure the safety of their children.