Republican Victory: Kentucky Passes Sweeping Law Banning Transgender Surgeries

On Wednesday, the Kentucky state legislature took a stand to protect the state’s youth by overriding the veto of Gov. Andy Beshear (D-KY) on a bill meant to restrict the ability of young people to access transgender surgeries.

The bill in question prohibits discussion of sexual orientation and gender identity in all grades, requires that transgender students use the restroom that corresponds with their biological gender, allows teachers to not use preferred pronouns, bans gender surgery for minors, and requires doctors to detransition individuals if they received ‘gender reassignment’ surgery, as reported by USA Today.

Both chambers of the legislature, which have Republican majorities, voted overwhelmingly in support of the legislation. The law will go into effect in late June.

“SB 150 will protect the lives of Kentucky children by setting policy in alignment with the truth that every child is created as a male or female and deserves to be loved, treated with dignity, and accepted for who they really are,” wrote Family Foundation leader David Walls in a statement, adding that the veto override is “a win for children and their parents in Kentucky.”

Republican State Rep. Max Wise, who sponsored the legislation, stated that he had “a countless number of people come up to me from both sides of the aisle to say thank you for standing up for common sense.”

WATCH: MULTIPLE ARRESTS MADE AS TRANS PROTESTERS STORM KENTUCKY CAPITOL

In response to the legislation passing into law, multiple groups such as the ACLU vowed to challenge it, writing in a statement, “To all the trans youth who may be affected by this legislation: we stand by you, and we will not stop fighting. You are cherished. You are loved. You belong. To the commonwealth: we will see you in court.”

Governor Beshear said that the bill would increase youth suicide and would interfere in medical decision-making, as reported by Newsmax.

During the veto override consideration, multiple protesters occupied the Kentucky Capitol building leading to multiple arrests.

Police initially struggled to apprehend the protesters to escort them from the building, however, about half an hour later they used zip ties to lead the protesters out of the Capitol, according to the Lewiston Tribune.

“We welcome everybody to be here, to participate in their government, and want everybody to be here to participate in their government. (But) we do expect that proper levels of decorum will be maintained to allow us to conduct our business,” wrote House Speaker David Osborne (R). “We felt it was important to proceed on with the business thing that we did.”

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