On Thursday, Republican lawmakers in Kentucky passed a controversial measure that would prohibit gender-affirming care for transgender minors, a sweeping policy that has triggered outrage and tears among opponents who were unable to stop the fast-tracked policymaking on a culture wars issue. The proposal, which affects how gender is discussed in schools, was passed by GOP supermajorities in both the House and Senate, beating a Thursday deadline to retain their power to override an expected gubernatorial veto.
The bill, which drew fierce criticism from its opponents, was swiftly repackaged and passed after a slimmed-down version had stalled in the Senate, leaving the issue in limbo. The far-reaching rendition, which included measures allowing teachers to refuse to refer to transgender students by their preferred pronouns and requiring schools to notify parents when lessons related to human sexuality are going to be taught, also banned gender-affirming medical care for trans youths. The bill would outlaw gender reassignment surgery for anyone under 18, as well as the use of puberty blockers and hormones, and inpatient and outpatient gender-affirming hospital services.
- Advertisement -
The bill’s supporters argued that they are trying to protect children from undertaking gender-affirming treatments that they might later regret as adults. “We’re talking about removing healthy body parts that you cannot put back on,” said Republican Sen. Lindsey Tichenor, who supported the bill. However, the bill’s opponents denounced the fast-track maneuvering and the expanded measure’s consequences for trans youths, with some opponents shouting from the Senate gallery after the measure won final passage.
The American Civil Liberties Union of Kentucky swiftly warned that it “stands ready” to challenge the measure in court if it becomes law, with Amber Duke, the organization’s interim executive director, stating that “legislators cannot erase transgender people from existence, and we will continue to fight for equal rights and equal protection under the law.” The issue has also spurred emotional debate from bill opponents who call it discriminatory and say it would hurt transgender youth.
The bill’s passage in Kentucky comes amid a wave of measures that restrict the rights of LGBTQ people across the United States this year, from bills targeting trans athletes and drag performers to ones limiting gender-affirming care. In Mississippi, Republican Gov. Tate Reeves recently signed a bill to ban gender-affirming hormones or surgery in the state for anyone younger than 18. The Republican governors of South Dakota and Utah have also signed bans on gender-affirming care this year. As the culture wars continue to rage, the fate of transgender youth hangs in the balance, with the issue likely to remain at the forefront of political debates and legal challenges in the months ahead.
16 mins ago
