Gov. Beshear vetoes sweeping GOP transgender measure

FRANKFORT, Ky. (LEX 18) — Gov. Andy Beshear has vetoed a sweeping Republican measure aimed at regulating the lives of transgender youths.

Senate Bill 150 would ban their access to gender-affirming health care, determine which bathrooms they use at school, and ban the discussion of sexual orientation and gender identity in schools. The bill also allows teachers to refuse to use a person's preferred pronouns.

"I stand by that veto," Beshear told LEX 18 on Friday.

Beshear believes the bill "rips away the rights of parents to make decisions for their kids."

"I don't think it's radical to think that parents - and not big government - should make medical decisions for their children," he added.

Beshear also believes the bill will lead to an increase in teen suicide among trans youth.

"We ought to be in the suicide prevention business. Not the other way around," said Beshear. "There's no question that all of the evidence out there - all of the medical groups - says this will increase teen suicide. And we ought to be preventing that."

LGBTQ advocates, who call SB 150 the "worst anti-trans bill in the nation," celebrated the governor's veto.

"We are so grateful Governor Andy Beshear chose to stand with Kentucky kids and their families today by vetoing Senate Bill 150," said Chris Hartman, executive director of the Fairness Campaign.

"SB150 will only lead to disaster and despair for transgender Kentucky kids and their families," he added.

But supporters of the bill called the governor's veto "dangerous." They believe the bill will protect children from medical decisions they may regret in the future.

"SB 150 will save the lives of Kentucky children by setting policy in alignment with the truth that every child is created as a biological male or female and deserves to be loved, treated with dignity, and accepted for who they really are," said David Walls, the executive director of the Family Foundation. "We look forward to the General Assembly overriding Beshear’s shameful veto so that the Commonwealth’s children and their dignity can be protected."

The Republican Party of Kentucky called the governor's decision to veto SB 150 "radical."

"Most people agree that you need to be a certain age before participating in certain activities, like consuming alcohol or smoking cigarettes,” RPK spokesman Sean Southard said. “Not Andy Beshear. Andy Beshear thinks it’s okay for children to have access to life-altering sex change surgery and drugs before they turn 18."

But Beshear believes he's not the radical one.

"The only radical actions here are by a government that wants to come into our homes and make decisions for our kids - that we, as parents, ought to be able to make," said Beshear.

The legislature will likely override the governor's veto next week during the final two days of the 2023 legislative session. So, SB 150 still has a good chance at becoming law.

In response to that possibility, the governor said he hopes "that those kids out there at least see this veto and know that somebody cares about them."

The legislation in Kentucky is part of a national movement, with state lawmakers approving extensive measures that restrict the rights of LGBTQ+ people this year, from bills targeting trans athletes and drag performers to measures limiting gender-affirming care.

In Kentucky, the expanded version that reached Beshear’s desk was rushed through both legislative chambers in a matter of hours on March 16 before lawmakers began an extended break. The fast-track work enabled lawmakers to retain their ability to override the governor’s veto. The action triggered outrage and tears among opponents unable to stop the legislation.

The measure 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.

Doctors would have to set a timeline to “detransition” children already taking puberty blockers or undergoing hormone therapy. They could continue offering care as they taper a youngster’s treatments, if removing them from the treatment immediately could harm the child.

Transgender medical treatments have long been available in the United States and are endorsed by major medical associations.

The American Civil Liberties Union of Kentucky warned that it “stands ready” to challenge the measure in court if it becomes law.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.