Kentucky’s Democratic governor issued an election-year veto Friday for a Republican bill aimed at regulating the lives of transgender youth, including banning access to gender-affirming health care and restricting the bathrooms they can use to do is included.
The bill also bans the discussion of sexual orientation and gender identity in schools and allows teachers to refuse to refer to transgender students by the pronouns they use. It easily passed the GOP-led legislature with a veto-proof margin, and lawmakers will meet again next week for the final two days of this year’s session when they could vote to override the veto.
Village. Andy Beshear said in a written veto message that the bill “allows too much government interference in individual health care issues and takes away parents’ freedom to make informed decisions for their children.”
In his message, he warned that the consequences of the bill would include an increase in youth suicides. The governor said, “My faith teaches me that all children are children of God and that Senate Bill 150 would put the children of Kentucky at risk.”
Beshear’s veto comes as he seeks re-election to a second term in Republican-leaning Kentucky this year, and his veto could swing through the November election.
The legislation in Kentucky is part of a national movement, with state lawmakers approving a wide range of measures this year that restrict the rights of LGBTQ+ people, from bills targeting trans athletes to limiting gender-affirming care. Drag up to Measures.
In Kentucky, the expanded version that reached Beshear’s desk was rushed through both legislative chambers before lawmakers’ extended recess began on March 16. The fast-track work enabled lawmakers to retain the ability to override the governor’s veto. The action sparked outrage and tears among opponents unable to stop the legislation.
Proponents of the bill say they are trying to protect children from having to undergo gender-affirming treatment, which they may regret as adults. Research shows that such remorse is rare.
The repackaged measure would ban gender-affirming care for transgender minors. It would outlaw gender reassignment surgery for anyone under the age of 18, as well as the use of puberty blockers and hormones, and inpatient and outpatient gender-affirming hospital services.
Doctors must determine a timeline for “contrast” children already taking puberty blockers or undergoing hormone therapy. They may continue to offer care as they ease a young person’s treatment if removing them from treatment too quickly could harm the child.
Such treatments have long been available in the United States and are endorsed by major medical associations.
Beshear said in his veto message, “The American Medical Association reports that receiving care dramatically lowers rates of suicide attempts, reduces feelings of depression and anxiety, and reduces substance abuse.” “
The bill would not allow schools to discuss sexual orientation or gender identity with students of any age.
Another key provision would require school districts to formulate bathroom policies that “at least” would not allow transgender children to use bathrooms that align with their gender identity.
It would also allow teachers to forbid referring to transgender students by the pronouns they use and require schools to notify parents when lessons related to human sexuality are being taught.
Beshear said in his veto message that the bill would turn teachers and administrators into “investigators who listen to students’ conversations and then knock on doors to confront parents and families and question how students behave and/or refer to themselves or others.”
After the bill passed the legislature, the American Civil Liberties Union of Kentucky warned that it “is prepared” to challenge the measure in court if it becomes law.