Kentucky lawmakers Wednesday overrode Governor Andy Beshear’s veto on Senate Bill 150, a bill to enact restrictions on the rights of transgender youth to seek gender-affirming care and to use bathrooms that align with their gender identities.
The Kentucky House of Representative approved the override in a 76-23 vote, and the state’s Senate approved the measure 29-8. Under the law, gender-affirming surgeries, puberty blockers and hormone therapy are banned for children under 18. The law also states that “The Kentucky Board of Education or the Kentucky Department of Education shall not require or recommend policies or procedures for the use of pronouns that do not conform to a student’s biological sex.”
Responding to the vote, Executive Director of the Kentucky ACLU Amber Dukes commented:
Trans Kentuckians, medical and mental health professionals, and accredited professional associations pleaded with lawmakers to listen to the experts, not harmful rhetoric based in fear and hate. Their pleas fell on deaf ears as the general assembly passed the bill in a matter of hours.
In a statement explaining his veto, Governor Beshear said:
Senate Bill 150 allows too much government interference in personal healthcare issues and rips away the freedom of parents to make medical decisions for their children. Improving access to gender affirming care is an important means of improving health outcomes for the transgender population. Senate Bill 150 will cause an increase in suicide among Kentucky’s youth.
The law will not go into effect until 90 days after the Kentucky General Assembly has concluded.