Pro-Transgender Protesters Arrested at Kentucky Capitol as State Lawmakers Outlaw Gender Transitions for Minors

Nineteen protesters were detained by Kentucky State Police on March 29 as lawmakers overturned Democrat Governor Andy Beshear’s veto of a law banning the use of gender transition procedures on children.

During the debate, they were shouting and chanting in the House gallery and were charged with criminal trespassing when they refused to leave, according to the Louisville Courier Journal.

The protesters have since been released on their own recognizance.

A ‘Radical’ Ideology in Schools

Responding to the demonstrations, Republican Kentucky House Speaker David Osborne told the outlet: “Obviously, we welcome everybody to be here, to participate in their government… but we do expect that proper levels of decorum will be maintained to allow us to conduct our business.

“We felt it was important to proceed on with the business thing that we did.”

Students from the Jefferson County Public Schools (JCPS) were present at the March 29 demonstrations, which the Republican Party of Kentucky denounced in a statement.

“Why aren’t our kids in school? Isn’t today a school day?” Republican spokesman Sean Southard wondered.

He added, “Andy Beshear and Jason Glass, and JCPS appear to be working together to implement this agenda in our schools.”

JCPS responded to these remarks by stating: “Engaging in civic activities is a valuable part of the educational experience. Today’s field trip to Frankfort was student-led and student-centered. JCPS supports students’ right to free speech.

“Any students who were transported to Frankfort on a JCPS school bus had permission slips signed by their parents or guardians, as is the case with all field trips,” the school district added.

Meanwhile, Glass dismissed Southard’s assertions of his support for the move as an “invented fanciful conspiracy theory” and characterized the Republican legislation as “bigoted, hateful, and shameful.”

“Instead of trying to pin this on someone else, legislators who feel uncomfortable with the attention they are getting because of this issue should reflect on their own actions and statements,” he added.

Hormone Therapies

Senate Bill 150, the center of the tension on March 29, prohibits minors from receiving puberty blockers, cross-sex hormone therapies, gender transition surgeries, and other related treatments.

In addition, the law prohibits sex-based discussions in schools and prevents schools from requiring staff to refer to students by their preferred pronouns if they do not match the child’s biological sex.