COVINGTON, Ky. – School districts across the state are continuing to review guidance from the Kentucky Department of Education on how to move forward with Senate Bill 150. 

What You Need To Know

  • Senate Bill 150 bans transgender healthcare for minors in Kentucky and bars teachers from discussing sexual orientation, among a number of provisions

  • The bill passed into law because of a legislative override over Gov. Andy Beshear's veto

  • The law went into effect immediately, due to an emergency clause

  • The Northern Kentucky Pride Center said it is a "worst-case scenario" for Kentucky's LGBTQ youth

Kentucky’s omnibus anti-trans bill, as it’s been described, became law following an override of Gov. Andy Beshear’s veto. The law went into effect immediately because of an emergency clause.

Dr. Bonnie Meyer, president of the Northern Kentucky Pride Center, said she thinks the law will be hurtful to LGBTQ youth.

“It’s the worst-case scenario for LGBTQ kids in Kentucky. It’s astounding for so many of us that with all of the important issues that we should worry about, that our elected officials in Frankfort decided to take up this attack on LGBTQ kids who need affirming people in their lives,” Meyer said.

The Kentucky Department of Education released guidance for districts on how to move forward with new rules.

An official with the Kenton County School District told Spectrum News 1 simply, “We are going to follow the law.”

Boone County Schools Superintendent Matthew Turner sent a statement, in which he said the district was actively working with school administrators on the emergency stipulations in the bill to ensure compliance.

“We cannot speak specifically to these new laws until we complete the process of developing process and procedures, which is underway and will be completed during the summer months,” he said.

The law bans gender transition health care for minors, requires school districts to create explicit bathroom policies, bans teachers from discussing sexual orientation and gender identity with students, and requires districts to notify parents of mental health services related to sexuality.

“These are lives that are at stake. We know that the suicide rates, self-harm, depression, just really falling into places of isolation and darkness, when we are not able to provide support and affirming adults and role models in the lives of these kids,” Meyer said. “I’ve been an educator for 20 years. As an educator, this enrages me. As somebody who’s worked with LGBTQ youth for more than 15 years, at this point, it’s concerning.”

According to KDE’s guidance, schools can no longer allow transgender students to use restrooms, locker rooms, or shower rooms reserved for students of a different “biological” sex than theirs, according to the text of the bill, and instead must provide “the best available accommodation.”

Supporters of the law say it protects parental rights and the safety of students.

However, Meyer said she’s heard from students and parents who are exploring moving out of the state because of the law. She said the Pride Center is going to work with organizations to continue providing support. 

Meyer said she ​​expects to see resistance from some local school boards as they craft their district’s policies, based on the new law. There is a town hall discussion planned at the Northern Kentucky Pride Center in Covington on May 23.

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