LEXINGTON, Ky. — As Republican lawmakers continue advancing bills that regulate the treatment of and deny health care to transgender youth in Kentucky, medical experts are sounding the alarm on a worsened “LGBTQ+ mental health crisis” that is sure to follow the passage of such measures.
Senate Bill 150 and House Bill 470 are gaining support from the Republican supermajority General Assembly. Senate Bill 150 from Sen. Max Wise, R-Campbellsville, regulates communication between K-12 districts, schools and parents regarding students’ use of pronouns, school curriculum around sexuality, contraception and family planning. House Bill 470 disallows the full spectrum of gender-affirming care in health care settings for trans youth.
Though these proposals aren’t the only legislation filed this session aimed at LGBTQ youth, they are likely to have the biggest combined impact, both on students’ life in schools and in a health care setting.
