Kentucky Legislators Advance Bill Safeguarding Conversion Therapy
The Republican-led legislature of Kentucky has advanced a divisive measure safeguarding conversion therapy for LGBTQ+ young people. Medical professionals and LGBTQ+ activists have sharply objected to the measure, which also limits Medicaid funds covering gender-affirming health care for transgender residents.
Late-Night House Vote Results in Passage
Just before the midnight cutoff, late Friday, the Kentucky House of Representatives approved the measure. This choice guarantees that the GOP supermajority will be able to supersede any possible veto from Democratic Governor Andy Beshear.
The measure reflects the Senate’s version, which particularly forbids Medicaid money from being used for gender-affirming medical procedures. Widely rejected by most medical groups, conversion therapy remains central in the argument. The practice seeks to alter a person’s gender identification or sexual orientation and has been connected to extreme psychological discomfort, including higher suicide risk among LGBTQ+ young people.
Ban on Conversion Therapy by Governor Overturned
Governor Beshear signed an executive order last year prohibiting state money from aiding minors in conversion therapy. His directive also urged licensing authorities to impose disciplinary penalties on practitioners. But the new measure directly reverses these protections, passing both chambers with veto-proof margins.
Governor Beshear fiercely opposed the law, stating that every major medical organization that examined conversion therapy has discredited it. “It greatly raises the likelihood of suicide among young LGBTQ+ people. It is like torture, thus we should not let it to occur here in the commonwealth.”
Different Points of View on the Bill
Both supporters and opponents of the measure have reacted strongly.
- “One of the most shameful bills in Kentucky history,” Chris Hartman, Executive Director of the Fairness Campaign, said. AP News
- Democrat lawmaker Rep. Lisa Willner called conversion therapy “discredited, dangerous, suicide-promoting practices.” AP News
- David Walls, Executive Director of the Family Foundation, hailed the legislation, contending it upholds parental rights and religious liberties. AP News
During Friday’s session, GOP legislators mainly stayed away from talking about the measure. Rep. David Hale, its sponsor, justified it, though, by saying families should be free to seek mental health treatment consistent with their values.
The Effects on Medicaid and Transgender Prisoners
Another important element of the measure keeps Medicaid from covering gender-affirming medical treatment. This means Kentucky transgender people who depend on Medicaid will be deprived of treatments advised by doctors.
The legislature also passed a separate measure aimed at transgender prisoners, so prohibiting their access to gender-affirming treatments while they were inside. Proponents contend that “elective” medical treatments should not be paid for with taxpayer money.
“The idea that state taxpayers should be footing the bill for gender transition treatments, especially for those who have committed crimes, is outrageous,” David Walls said in justifying this position.
Proponents counter that hiding recommended medical treatment is both immoral and illegal. Chris Hartman underlined that under the pretext of saving tax money, refusing medication to transgender prisoners violates basic human rights.
Legal Challenges and National Consequences
Kentucky’s debate fits a larger national conversation on LGBTQ+ rights and access to gender-affirming medical treatment. Reviewing a Colorado case involving state prohibitions on conversion therapy, the U.S. Supreme Court may set a precedent for such legislation applied throughout the nation. Kentucky conversion therapy bill
Governor Beshear is expected to veto the measure; thus, the Republican-dominated legislature seems ready to overturn it. Legal battles and advocacy campaigns will probably follow as Kentucky stays at the center of this divisive issue.
