Kentucky lawmakers override governor's veto of transgender bill
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[March 30, 2023] By
Andrew Hay
(Reuters) - Republican lawmakers in Kentucky on Wednesday overturned the
governor's veto of a bill to ban transgender youths from
gender-affirming healthcare and restrict which toilets they use in
public schools, voting in line with a national conservative-led
movement.
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![](../images/033023PIX/news_a94.jpg)
Kentucky's Democratic Governor Andy Beshear
looks on after a memorial service for those who died from the
coronavirus disease (COVID-19), held on the Capitol grounds in
Frankfort, Kentucky, U.S., November 14, 2021. REUTERS/Jon Cherry |
Both chambers of Kentucky's general assembly, where Republicans
hold large majorities, voted overwhelmingly to override last
week's veto by Democratic Governor Andy Beshear, who is running
for reelection in November.
Supporters of the bill said they passed the legislation to
protect children from undergoing gender-affirming treatments
they would regret later in life.
Beshear said the bill would increase youth suicides and permit
excessive government interference in personal healthcare
decisions.
The American Civil Liberties Union of Kentucky promised legal
action to stop medical sections of the bill taking effect in
about three months.
The legislation will let teachers refuse to refer to transgender
students by their chosen pronouns, outlaw gender reassignment
surgery for minors, stop use of puberty blockers and prohibit
gender-affirming hospital services.
The bill is part of a wave of nationwide actions to restrict
LGBTQ rights. Measures include bans on discussion of gender
identity in schools, clampdowns on drag shows and blocking
transgender participation in sports.
West Virginia on Wednesday passed a law banning gender-affirming
care for transgender youth after about 10 other states approved
laws restricting or outlawing medical treatments for transgender
minors.
(Reporting by Andrew Hay in Taos, New Mexico; Editing by Donna
Bryson and Leslie Adler)
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