Gov. Andy Beshear vetoes Kentucky's sweeping anti-trans bill; override possible

This story discusses suicide and mental health issues. If you're in crisis, help is available: Call the national 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline by dialing 988 orchatting online.

If you or someone you know needs trans peer support, you can call Trans Kentucky at 859-448-5428 or visittheir website. Nationally, you can call the Trans Lifeline at 877-565-8860 or visittheir website. LGBTQ+ youth can get support from the Trevor Project by calling 866-488-7386 or visitingtheir website.

Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear has vetoed one of the nation’s most extreme anti-trans bills. 

Beshear, a Democrat running for reelection, announced Friday he vetoed Senate Bill 150 – one of his first vetoes this year. 

Kentucky Senate Bill 150 "tears away the freedom of parents to make important and difficult medical decisions for their kids," Beshear told reporters Thursday.

"It tears away the freedom of parents to do what those parents believe is best for their kids and instead has big government making those decisions for everyone, even if the parents disagree."

Beshear's formal veto message makes similar points, adding SB 150 will turn educators "into investigators that must listen in on student conversations and then knock on doors to confront and question parents and families about how students behave and/or refer to themselves or others."

Background:At 11th hour, Kentucky Republicans resurrect, expand and pass anti-trans bill

Friday's veto likely isn’t the end for SB 150, though. Kentucky’s Republican-dominated legislature has enough votes to override Beshear’s veto when it returns for the final days of the 2023 session March 29 and 30. 

Should SB 150 ultimately become law, it is likely to face legal action. Jackie McGranahan, a policy strategist with the ACLU of Kentucky, said this week on “Kentucky Tonight” the group is exploring the best path forward and “that may mean one lawsuit or it could mean several.”

And one Kentucky man already challenged the bill's constitutionality in Clay County Circuit Court, asking a judge to permanently block SB 150's implementation.

If it becomes law, SB 150:

• Bans all gender-affirming medical care for trans youths in Kentucky;
• Requires doctors to detransition minors in their care if they’re currently using any of the would-be restricted treatment options;
• Prohibits conversations around sexual orientation or gender identity in school for students of all grades;
• Requires school districts to forbid trans students from using the bathroom tied to their gender identities;
• Allows teachers to refuse to use a student’s preferred pronouns.

Leading up to Friday's veto, Beshear had made it clear he opposed any anti-LGBTQ bills facing lawmakers. When asked if he would veto SB 150 on Thursday, Beshear demurred from answering directly, but said, "I think I've been clear on how I feel about it."

More:Fairness Campaign releases poll showing most Kentuckians oppose anti-trans legislation

Beshear, along with many against the bill, fears SB 150's passage will cause a jump in teen suicides for an already marginalized group.

According to a 2022 survey from the Trevor Project, about 86% of trans or nonbinary youths said political debate around trans issues negatively impacted their mental health.

In the same survey, more than half of trans and nonbinary youths who responded said they seriously considered attempting suicide in the past year – and 24% of them attempted suicide.

In his veto message, Beshear wrote that his "faith teaches me that all children are children of God and Senate Bill 150 will endanger the children of Kentucky."

Kentucky's 2023 legislative session ends March 30.

This story will be updated.

Reach Olivia Krauth at okrauth@courierjournal.com and on Twitter at @oliviakrauth.