LOUISVILLE, Ky. — Following passage of a bill in the Kentucky Senate allowing teachers to mis-gender students, one psychologist is warning of the dangers it would pose if becoming law. 

What You Need To Know

  • Republican lawmakers in Kentucky have passed a bill allowing teachers to refuse to refer to transgender students by their preferred pronouns

  • State senators voted on an amended version of the bill Thursday 

  •  A psychologist says this would be harmful to trans students
  • LGBTQ kids are four times more likely to attempt suicide

 

Senate Bill 150 passed in the state Senate Thursday. Senator Max Wise (R- Leitchfield) introduced the bill. 

Among other measures, SB150 would give educators the option to use pronouns aligned with a student’s gender identity, but not require it. 

Dr. Eric Russ says there can be an increase in mental health disorders among youth when they’re in places that are not affirming of their gender identity. 

“Folks who face transphobia or other forms of discrimination often are going to experience more depression, more anxiety, lots of mental health consequences. Not because of their gender identity but because of the discrimination and lack of affirmation that they’re facing,” Dr. Russ said. 

The Trevor Project, a suicide prevention organization for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer & questioning youth, found those kids are four times more likely to attempt suicide. 

Among people between the ages of 10-24, suicide is the second leading cause of death.

“These sorts of bills directly relate to kids killing themselves,” Dr. Russ said. “These are harmful bills and I think having our politicians confronted with the idea of how dangerous these are is really important.”

Russ adds disagreements over policies like SB 150, are shared by various medical organizations. 

“I’m a little troubled by the idea that folks need more information. Every medical association is really clear that affirming practices are the right way to treat LGBTQ youth. There’s not a debate about this,” Dr. Russ said. 

SB150 has been framed as a parent’s rights bill. Dr. Russ feels this is not accurate, as it would take the final say on a student’s pronouns away from a parent. 

“You know if you are a parent of a trans kid and say, ‘Hey school, I want you to use these pronouns with my kid,’ the school can say ‘No.’ So it doesn’t provide the rights for parents to say, here is how I would like my child to be treated at school. It lets the school actually tell the parents ‘No.’ That doesn’t seem like a parent’s rights bill to me,” Dr. Russ said. 

Dr. Russ encourages young people to reach out to lawmakers, and express how they feel about bills like SB 150. 

The bill is currently the only bill related to LGBTQ issues that has passed in either chamber. Lawmakers in the House will be able to discuss this bill when they return to Frankfort Tuesday.

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