National, state, and local media are recognizing that the race for Kentucky Governor is focusing significantly on LGBTQ issues and have felt the need to take a closer look.
WUKY noted “gender reassignment surgery for minors… took the spotlight,” but ongoing conversation includes broader “issues pertaining to the LGBTQ community.”
So, let’s take a deeper look at what LINK nky says is “likely to be a vital part of the Kentucky governor’s race” and WKYT recognizes as a focus of the “day-to-day campaign stops and banter” of the race for Kentucky Governor.
During Andy Beshear’s time as Governor, he has established an extensive resume as the most pro-LGBTQ governor in the history of the Commonwealth — something that Beshear and the Democratic Party have publicly bragged about.
1) Beshear vetoed bill protecting kids from gender ‘transitions.’
On March 24, 2023, Gov. Andy Beshear vetoed Senate Bill 150, which protected children from puberty blockers, cross-sex hormones, and sex-change surgery.
In his veto message, Beshear made no distinction between those three methods of gender ‘transitioning.’ Instead, Beshear declared that these protections for kids “allow[] too much government interference in personal healthcare issues…” Beshear’s veto message went on to advocate for the importance of “improving access” to so-called “gender-affirming care.”
The General Assembly overrode Beshear’s veto, and Senate Bill 150 is now law.
Sources: apps.legislature.ky.gov/recorddocuments/bill/23RS/sb150/bill.pdf and apps.legislature.ky.gov/record/23rs/sb150/veto.pdf
2) Beshear admin sought to secretly indoctrinate & socially ‘transition’ kids.
The Beshear Administration’s Dept. of Education encouraged teachers to use students’ preferred pronouns and names, while keeping parents in the dark. The Commissioner of Education said those who disagreed should “find a new job.”
The Dept. of Education also issued flawed guidance encouraging school districts to disregard SB 150’s protections against age-inappropriate LGBTQ instruction.
Sources: www.kentuckyfamily.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/Considerations_for_Using_Student_Preferred_Names.pdf; ket.org/legislature/archives/2023/regular/house-education-committee-200796 (at 59:12); and https://www.ag.ky.gov/Resources/Opinions/Opinions/Opinion%20of%20the%20Attorney%20General%2023-04.pdf
3) Beshear vetoed bill protecting girls’ sports and Girls’ bathrooms.
On April 6, 2022, Gov. Andy Beshear vetoed Senate Bill 83, the “Fairness in Women’s Sports Act,” which prevented boys from competing on girls’ sports teams in middle school, high school, and college.
On March 24, 2023, Gov. Andy Beshear vetoed Senate Bill 150, including its requirement that Kentucky’s public schools protect the dignity, privacy, and safety of students in their care by ensuring that minor children are not allowed to be viewed in various stages of undress by members of the opposite biological sex nor minor children subjected to the use of school restrooms, locker rooms, or shower rooms by the opposite biological sex while they are present.
The General Assembly overrode Beshear’s veto of both bills, which are now law.
Sources: apps.legislature.ky.gov/record/23rs/sb150/veto.pdf and apps.legislature.ky.gov/record/22rs/sb83/veto.pdf
4) Beshear was 1st KY governor to declare “pride month,” pose for picture with drag queens.
“Today, for the first time in the history of the commonwealth, I am honored to proclaim June 2021 as Pride Month.” – Gov. Andy Beshear
“I would absolutely take that picture again.” – Gov. Andy Beshear
Sources: https://twitter.com/GovAndyBeshear/status/1410264736357359616; twitter.com/joesonka/status/1230203615312306177; and www.nbcnews.com/feature/nbc-out/governor-s-photo-drag-queens-stirs-controversy-kentucky-n1145561
5) Beshear discriminated against sunrise children’s services.
Despite previous administrations allowing Sunrise to opt out of LGBTQ “nondiscrimination” language so they could continue to serve Kentucky’s foster care children, Beshear refused to renew the contract unless Sunrise signed the language overriding their Christian objection to placing kids with same-sex couples.
Beshear reversed his position only after widespread backlash and a unanimous U.S. Supreme Court decision in favor of another Christian foster care agency.
Source: wng.org/roundups/sunrise-prevails-1626541393
6) Beshear endorsed radical LGBTQ laws that discriminate.
Beshear endorsed a statewide “nondiscrimination” law similar to those used to punish Christian businesses, and a so-called “conversion therapy” ban that outlaws anything but LGBTQ-affirming counseling, thus banning Biblical counseling on sexuality.
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