Kentucky Republicans Override Governor’s Veto of Bill Banning Transition Surgery, Puberty Blockers for Minors
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The Republican supermajority in Kentucky’s legislature has overridden Governor Andy Beshear’s veto of a bill that bans gender transition procedures for children, among other things.
The motion to override the governor’s veto passed 29-8 in the Kentucky Senate and 76-23 in the House on Thursday. Over ten states now have laws that set guardrails on gender transition for minors.
Senate Bill 150 goes further than some other states, banning gender-reassignment surgery for anyone under 18, as well as the use of puberty blockers and hormones.
The bill also holds that children are not to be instructed in gender identity and sexual orientation in all grades. Teachers are not required to use preferred pronouns and students are required to use the bathroom or locker room that corresponds to their sex. Furthermore, the bill strengthens parental notification.
Republican Sen. Robby Mills told the Associated Press he supported the bill because of his belief that “puberty blockers and cross-sex hormones, when administered to youth under 18 for the purpose of altering their appearance, is dangerous for the health of that child.”
Republicans have positioned themselves as the ones protecting parental rights. However, Beshear, a Democrat, adopted a curious rhetorical posture in his veto message, arguing against government interference and for parental rights.
He explained he thought the bill “allows too much government interference in personal healthcare issues and rips away the freedom of parents to make medical decisions for their children. Senate Bill 150 further strips from parents to make personal family decisions on the names their children are called and how people should.”
The parts of the bill relating to gender transition will take effect in about three months. The veto override was one of the last actions of the Kentucky General Assembly, with their legislative session about to end.
Beshear is currently in an election year and has picked his battles carefully, signing anti-ESG legislation last week.
