Andy Beshear, Kentucky’s Democrat governor, in an op-ed
for The New York Times.
“As governor, I have vetoed numerous anti-LGBTQ+ and
anti-choice bills, yet I still beat [The Felon’s] handpicked candidate
last fall. That happened because even if some voters might have disagreed with
the vetoes, they knew the next day I would be announcing new jobs, opening a
new health clinic or finishing a new road that would cut 20 minutes off their
commute. Transgender children deserve public officials’ efforts to demonstrate
that they are valued members of our community through compassion, kindness, and
empathy, even if not understanding. I vetoed anti-LGBTQ legislation last year
because I believe all children are children of God and whether people agree
with my decision, they know why I’m making it. They know where I am coming
from.”
In March 2023, Beshear vetoed a bill which included a
ban on gender-affirming care for trans minors, restrictions on discussion of
LGBTQ+ issues in schools, and a provision allowing outing of LGBTQ+ students.
Unfortunately, the Kentucky GOP overrode his veto, so the bill
became law. In 2022, he vetoed a bill barring transgender girls and women from
competing with cisgender females in school sports; lawmakers overrode
it too.
This year, he signed an executive order to outlaw the
use of conversion therapy, designed to turn LGBTQ+ people straight or
cisgender, on minors after the Republican-dominated legislature failed to pass
a bill to this effect.
Beshear remains a reliable LGBTQ+ ally and a rather
attractive one at that.
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