GOP lawmakers override veto of transgender bill in Kentucky

This is the door that opens for y'all. Not me. For y'all. It just made me realize that I'm not alone and that I don't have to go through this one. This is what success looks looks like. This is what community looks like. Mm hmm. Mm hmm. What does it mean to be transgender for a prom queen? It means leaving the football team to become the woman she's always wanted to be for a high school soccer player. It means fighting to play the game she loves. And for hundreds of others, it means striving to find peace and safety in a world that's not always accepting. MJ Rodriguez has just made history becoming the first transgender actress to win a golden globe for her role on pose. A show that's broken barriers by portraying storylines with trans characters played by trans actors. That recognition is a long time coming for the transgender community. Rodriguez and her peers bring visibility and awareness nationwide. These two high school students are doing the same thing in their communities. So I played football for about like six years, 6-8. And I remember, you know, during practices, I'd stare at the cheerleaders because I wanted to be with them. Evan bile. Asuka Nia was crowned Olympia High School's first transgender homecoming queen in the fall of 2021 in florida. She started transitioning just a few months before and when her classmates voted to give her the crown and Sash, it meant everything. And so did having a supportive date by her side. It just made me feel like I was actually I actually belong, not just like a joke because I was one of my fears. I was like in bed one night and just like what if they're just doing this to laugh at me. He made me feel just like any other girl. I was talking to a person that's on prom committee and they said that you won prom queen And I was just like, are you being serious in 2018 at homestead high school in Wisconsin. Then jr Nikko Nelson was crowned Prom Queen. She transitioned in junior high and said that she had her family and best friends support something that not all trans teens are fortunate enough to have. I was a boy when I met her and then when I started transitioning, she, I didn't think of me differently. People love makeup. Like love her and I'm like glad people can see her as the way I see her. I didn't win prom queen for being a transgender girl. I went prom queen for being Nico nelson. These young women have found support in their communities, but that's not always the case for many others across the country who face discrimination and violence Around the country. There's been an epidemic of murder of trans people. In fact, this year is the highest year, 48 murders that we've been able to count this year since we've been recording trans murders. The human rights campaign began keeping track in 2013 Since then at least 250 transgender or gender nonconforming people have been killed, The majority being women of Colour. One was Marquesa Lawrence. She was shot and killed in Greenville South Carolina on November 4, 2021. I just wish people stop being so heartless, care more love more understand, we love our family and she was a big part of it. Another was bee, love slater who was murdered on september 4th 2019 and Clewiston florida. She was such a kind heart and for someone that young and so kind spirited to be taken away so early is very devastating to anyone transgender day of remembrance honors their memory and the other victims of violence. But activists say the true number is much higher than what we know they're very common. And the reason that they're not seen in the headlines is that trans people often go unnoticed. Their stories are not heard. The story that often gets attention. The effort to ban transgender students from playing sports. I think it sends a really dangerous message to trans Children. I think the message that is being sent right now is that they are not worth protecting and that and that they're somehow less than or wrong states are introducing legislation to ban transgender athletes from competing as young as elementary school students. We believe in the state of florida of protecting the fairness and the integrity of women's athletics florida is one of several states that have passed laws, supporters say it's about fairness. But opponents say these bills do the opposite. The biggest problem with this issue is that you're underestimating how how good girls are at sports. Like that is. The worst part about saying it's unfair is you're telling girls they're already weaker. Please don't deny other transgender girls the opportunity to have these experiences and ability to be on a team. Just having fun and being active and learning about sportsmanship. Everybody should be able to participate regardless of their gender identity. The Justice Department, the Human rights Campaign and the w have all challenged these bands in court on behalf of transgender teens who may have been sidelined. Many of the lawsuits are still pending as these lawsuits go forward. Members of the trans community are undeterred using their voices to fight for acceptance by having that flag being up where it is. It shows that we're not alone, that there is folks that support us that support our friends and family that support our community. We're just people right. We are people like everyone else and we want to feel safe and feel inclusion in our communities. Just know that there are people out there like me who love you and accept you for who you are and you will be forever loved by everybody out there. Mm hmm. Mm hmm

Republican lawmakers in Kentucky on Wednesday swept aside the Democratic governor’s veto of a bill regulating some of the most personal aspects of life for transgender young people �� from banning access to gender-affirming health care to restricting the bathrooms they can use.The votes to override Gov. Andy Beshear’s veto were lopsided in both legislative chambers �� where the GOP wields supermajorities �� and came on the next-to-last day of this year’s legislative session.The debate is 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.Activists on both sides of the impassioned debate gathered at the statehouse to make competing appeals shortly before lawmakers took up the transgender bill.A few hours before the vote, as transgender-rights advocates rallied outside Kentucky’s Capitol, trans teenager Sun Pacyga held up a sign summing up a grim review of Republican legislation aimed at banning access to gender-affirming health care. The sign read: “Our blood is on your hands.”“If it passes, the restricted access to gender-affirming health care, I think trans kids will die because of that,�� the 17-year-old student said, expressing a persistent concern among the bill's critics that the restrictions could lead to an increase in teen suicides.The Senate voted 29-8 to override Beshear's veto, as chants from bill opponents echoed throughout the Capitol. A short time later, the House completed the override on a vote of 76-23 but not before chanting opponents of the bill were escorted out of the chamber.Bill supporters assembled to defend the measure, saying it protects trans children from undertaking gender-affirming treatments they might regret as adults. Research shows such regret is rare, however.“We cannot allow people to continue down the path of fantasy, to where they’re going to end up 10, 20, 30 years down the road and find themselves miserable from decisions that they made when they were young,�� said Republican Rep. Shane Baker at a Wednesday rally.Once the rally in support of the bill ended in the Capitol Rotunda, opponents watching from the balconies chanted, “Shame, shame.”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. At least nine states have enacted laws restricting or banning gender-affirming care for minor.The debate in the Kentucky Senate reflected the impassioned arguments put forth at the rival rallies.“We are denying families, their physicians and their therapists the right to make medically informed decisions for their families,�� Democratic Sen. Karen Berg said in opposing the bill.Berg read what her son, Henry Berg-Brousseau, wrote in advocating for transgender rights shortly before his death late last year at age 24. The cause was suicide, his mother said.Republican Sen. Robby Mills said 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.”Transgender medical treatments have long been available in the United States and are endorsed by major medical associations.Mills said another reason for his support was that “parents and students should have confidence that bathrooms in their school will only be used by the same biological sex.”The sweeping Kentucky measure would ban gender-affirming care for minors. It 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.The bill would not allow schools to discuss sexual orientation or gender identity with students of any age. It would also require school districts to devise bathroom policies that, “at a minimum,�� would not allow transgender children to use the bathroom aligned with their gender identities.It would further allow teachers to refuse to refer to transgender students by the pronouns they use.Another trans teenager, Hazel Hardesty, said the potential discontinuation of gender-affirming health care would mean “my male puberty would continue," which would “cause a lot of mental distress.”“People don’t even understand how it feels,�� the 16-year-old said during the rally. "Going through the wrong puberty, every day your body is a little bit farther from what feels like you. And eventually you don’t even recognize yourself in the mirror.��

The votes to override Gov. Andy Beshear’s veto were lopsided in both legislative chambers �� where the GOP wields supermajorities �� and came on the next-to-last day of this year’s legislative session.

The debate is 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.

Activists on both sides of the impassioned debate gathered at the statehouse to make competing appeals shortly before lawmakers took up the transgender bill.

A few hours before the vote, as transgender-rights advocates rallied outside Kentucky’s Capitol, trans teenager Sun Pacyga held up a sign summing up a grim review of Republican legislation aimed at banning access to gender-affirming health care. The sign read: “Our blood is on your hands.��

“If it passes, the restricted access to gender-affirming health care, I think trans kids will die because of that,�� the 17-year-old student said, expressing a persistent concern among the bill's critics that the restrictions could lead to an increase in teen suicides.

The Senate voted 29-8 to override , as chants from bill opponents echoed throughout the Capitol. A short time later, the House completed the override on a vote of 76-23 but not before chanting opponents of the bill were escorted out of the chamber.

Bill supporters assembled to defend the measure, saying it protects trans children from undertaking gender-affirming treatments they might regret as adults. Research shows , however.

“We cannot allow people to continue down the path of fantasy, to where they’re going to end up 10, 20, 30 years down the road and find themselves miserable from decisions that they made when they were young,�� said Republican Rep. Shane Baker at a Wednesday rally.

Once the rally in support of the bill ended in the Capitol Rotunda, opponents watching from the balconies chanted, “Shame, shame.��

The legislation in Kentucky is part of , 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. At least nine states have enacted laws restricting or banning gender-affirming care for minor.

The debate in the Kentucky Senate reflected the impassioned arguments put forth at the rival rallies.

“We are denying families, their physicians and their therapists the right to make medically informed decisions for their families,�� Democratic Sen. Karen Berg said in opposing the bill.

Berg read what her son, Henry Berg-Brousseau, wrote in advocating for transgender rights shortly before his death late last year . The cause was suicide, his mother said.

Republican Sen. Robby Mills said 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.��

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

Mills said another reason for his support was that “parents and students should have confidence that bathrooms in their school will only be used by the same biological sex.��

The sweeping Kentucky measure would ban for minors. It 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.

A group of protesters gather on the lawn of the Kentucky State Capitol to voice their opposition to the Transgender Health Bill in Frankfort, Ky., Wednesday, March 29, 2023. (AP Photo/Timothy D. Easley)

Timothy D. Easley

A group of protesters gathers on the lawn of the Kentucky State Capitol to voice their opposition to the Transgender Health Bill in Frankfort, Ky., Wednesday, March 29, 2023.

The bill would not allow schools to discuss sexual orientation or gender identity with students of any age. It would also require school districts to devise bathroom policies that, “at a minimum,�� would not allow transgender children to use the bathroom aligned with their gender identities.

It would further allow teachers to refuse to refer to transgender students by the pronouns they use.

Another trans teenager, Hazel Hardesty, said the potential discontinuation of gender-affirming health care would mean “my male puberty would continue," which would “cause a lot of mental distress.��

“People don’t even understand how it feels,�� the 16-year-old said during the rally. "Going through the wrong puberty, every day your body is a little bit farther from what feels like you. And eventually you don’t even recognize yourself in the mirror.��

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GOP lawmakers override veto of transgender bill in Kentucky

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