Kentucky’s legislature has overridden a controversial bill related to transgender youths. It now becomes law. Senate Bill 150, in its final form, addresses some of the most personal aspects of young trans people’s lives. It bans gender affirming care to minors, blocks teachers from using a student’s preferred pronouns, requires school districts to form bathroom policies based on biological sex and limits discussion about LGBTQ issues sexual education classes.? WLKY’s Mark Vanderhoff was inside the hearings. Read his updates here. On Wednesday, the second to last day of the General Assembly, hundreds of people gathered to rally on both sides of the issues.Protesters against the legislation filled the lawn in front of the Capitol. A smaller rally formed with those for the bill inside the rotunda after. The GOP-dominated Senate passed the measure first 29-8. It then went straight to the also majority Republican House, where protesters disrupted chambers by breaking out in chants.Among the chants was “Henry, Zachee, they should be with us today.” Both are trans people who have died in recent months.Henry was the son of Sen. Karen Berg, who was very vocal against the various trans bills this session. Zachee is a trans woman who was killed in Louisville, at her place of work.Chants went on as members of the House explained their votes. The protesters were then escorted by Kentucky State Police.We’re told 19 people were arrested and are being charged with trespassing.SB 150 has been contentious at the Capitol. It swiftly passed with modifications on the last day before the General Assembly break, when another failed bill was mashed into it. It was vetoed by Gov. Andy Beshear days ago.Wednesday’s debates are likely to spill over into this year’s gubernatorial campaign in Kentucky and could reach the courts if opponents follow through on a threat to mount a legal challenge against the bill.Bill supporters say it protects trans children from undertaking gender-affirming treatments they might regret as adults. Research shows such regret is rare, however.”It will protect the lives of Kentucky’s children by setting our public policy in alignment with the truth, that each and every child is created as a biological male or female,” David Walls, with the Family Foundation, said. Those against the bill say it will endanger trans students, who are already at high risk for suicide and depression.”As a trans girl, I think it would affect me pretty heavily and I know that my school and home environment are safe spaces, but I know some people who don’t have that same space. I know its going to affect them so much,” Amber Atwell said.The Associated Press contributed to this story.
Kentucky’s legislature has overridden a controversial bill related to transgender youths. It now becomes law.
Senate Bill 150, in its final form, addresses some of the most personal aspects of young trans people’s lives. It bans gender affirming care to minors, blocks teachers from using a student’s preferred pronouns, requires school districts to form bathroom policies based on biological sex and limits discussion about LGBTQ issues sexual education classes.
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? WLKY’s Mark Vanderhoff was inside the hearings. Read his updates here.
On Wednesday, the second to last day of the General Assembly, hundreds of people gathered to rally on both sides of the issues.
Protesters against the legislation filled the lawn in front of the Capitol. A smaller rally formed with those for the bill inside the rotunda after.
The GOP-dominated Senate passed the measure first 29-8. It then went straight to the also majority Republican House, where protesters disrupted chambers by breaking out in chants.
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Among the chants was “Henry, Zachee, they should be with us today.” Both are trans people who have died in recent months.
Henry was the son of Sen. Karen Berg, who was very vocal against the various trans bills this session. Zachee is a trans woman who was killed in Louisville, at her place of work.
Chants went on as members of the House explained their votes. The protesters were then escorted by Kentucky State Police.
We’re told 19 people were arrested and are being charged with trespassing.
SB 150 has been contentious at the Capitol. It swiftly passed with modifications on the last day before the General Assembly break, when another failed bill was mashed into it.
It was vetoed by Gov. Andy Beshear days ago.
Wednesday’s debates are likely to spill over into this year’s gubernatorial campaign in Kentucky and could reach the courts if opponents follow through on a threat to mount a legal challenge against the bill.
Bill supporters say it protects trans children from undertaking gender-affirming treatments they might regret as adults. Research shows such regret is rare, however.
“It will protect the lives of Kentucky’s children by setting our public policy in alignment with the truth, that each and every child is created as a biological male or female,” David Walls, with the Family Foundation, said.
Those against the bill say it will endanger trans students, who are already at high risk for suicide and depression.
“As a trans girl, I think it would affect me pretty heavily and I know that my school and home environment are safe spaces, but I know some people who don’t have that same space. I know its going to affect them so much,” Amber Atwell said.
The Associated Press contributed to this story.
