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Kentucky House approves bill banning gender-affirming care, now heads to Senate

Under the amended bill, doctors and healthcare providers who provide gender transition services could lose their license, but would no longer risk criminal charges.

LOUISVILLE, Ky. — The Kentucky House passed a bill that restricts gender-affirming care for young people on Thursday. The vote was 75 to 22.

Under the amended bill, doctors and healthcare providers who provide gender transition services could lose their license, but would no longer risk criminal charges.

The House vote came hours after a committee vote.

In a statement posted on social media, Louisville Mayor Craig Greenberg called the bill "cruel."

"Banning gender affirming care is medical neglect to our youth, their families, and their communities," he said.

Lawmakers who oppose the bill argue it prevents children who are transgender from getting the care they need and puts kids at risk for depression, anxiety and suicide.

"It says we know better than parents who are begging us not to do this because it increases the suicide risk for their children, and guarantees their kids will move away from Kentucky and never come home," Rep. Josie Raymond (D-D31) said.

While most supporters of the bill were quiet during the House debate, the bill's sponsor spoke on it during the earlier committee meeting, saying the goal is to protect children from "irreparable" damage.

"Ultimately, it is our obligation to protect children from irreparable harm. The state has a compelling interest in that proposition," Rep. Jennifer Decker (R-D58) said.

Rep. Kimberly Poore Moser's (R-D64) objections included how the bill would treat medical workers. She said it signals to them that the state is "going to micromanage you, we are going to insert government into the practice of medicine and we are going to punish you if you step out of line.”

Gov. Andy Beshear said bills like House Bill 470 that seek to restrict access to gender-affirming care in the state will only increase suicide among transgender youth.

He also pointed to polling that shows the majority of Kentuckians believe medical decisions should be made by parents and family.

"Every child is a child of God. Every. Single. One. And whether its the American Medical Association, Trevor's Project, all of the authority on this suggests these types of bills will cause an increase in suicide for Kentucky's teens," Beshear said. "I can't support anything that could cost the life of one of our Kentucky teens."

The bill now heads to the Senate.

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The Associated Press contributed to this report.

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