LGBTQ rights in Kentucky

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LGBTQ rights in Kentucky
Map of USA KY.svg
Kentucky (USA)
Status Legal since 1992
( Kentucky v. Wasson )
Gender identity Transgender individuals may alter their birth certificate after sex-reassignment surgery
Discrimination protections Sexual orientation and gender identity protections (see below)
Family rights
Recognition of relationships Same-sex marriage since 2015
Restrictions Kentucky Constitutional Amendment 1 limits marriage to one man and one woman (not enforceable), and prohibits non-marriage same-sex unions.
Adoption Single homosexuals may adopt

Lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer (LGBTQ) people in the U.S. state of Kentucky still face some legal challenges not experienced by other people. Same-sex sexual activity in Kentucky has been legally permitted since 1992, although the state legislature has not repealed its sodomy statute for same-sex couples. Same-sex marriage is legal in Kentucky under the U.S. Supreme Court ruling in Obergefell v. Hodges . The decision, which struck down Kentucky's statutory and constitutional bans on same-sex marriages and all other same-sex marriage bans elsewhere in the country, was handed down on June 26, 2015.

Contents

Like some Southern states in the U.S., Kentucky has generally been viewed as socially conservative; however, recent polls indicate that a slim majority (51 percent) of Kentuckians support same-sex marriage, and support has been increasing over time. [1] In 2010, Lexington elected its first openly gay mayor, Jim Gray, who went on to become the first openly LGBT Senate candidate from Kentucky in 2016. [2] Several cities in the state prohibit discrimination in employment, housing, and accommodations based on sexual orientation and gender identity. The Louisville-based Fairness Campaign, founded in 1991, is the state's oldest and largest LGBT advocacy organization in operation. [3] In 2008, a Fairness Coalition [4] was formed to collectively advance LGBT anti-discrimination protections in the commonwealth; its members are the American Civil Liberties Union of Kentucky, [5] Fairness Campaign, Kentucky Commission on Human Rights, and Lexington Fairness. [6]

Laws against homosexuality

In 1992, the Kentucky Supreme Court ruled the section of Kentucky's sodomy statute criminalizing consensual sodomy violated the Kentucky state constitution. In overturning the consensual sodomy statute (KRS 510.100) in the Kentucky v. Wasson case, the Kentucky Supreme Court decriminalized consensual sodomy. The statute remains on the books but remains unenforceable. In Lawrence v. Texas , the 2003 U.S. Supreme Court ruling overturning the remaining state sodomy laws, the U.S. Supreme Court further affirmed that such statutes violate the U.S. Constitution.

The former Kentucky statute criminalized consensual sexual relations between people of the same sex, even if conducted in private. Specifically, the law criminalized genital-oral (oral sex), genital-anal (anal sex), and anal-oral (rimming) sex – but only between partners of the same sex. Such sexual activities between mixed-sex (male-female) couples were legal. Such conduct was a misdemeanor punishable by up to 12 months in jail and a fine of up to $500. Solicitation of same was also a misdemeanor, punishable by up to 90 days in jail and a fine of up to $250.

Historically, Kentucky's sodomy statutes had changed over time. The 1860 sodomy statute criminalized anal penetration by a penis and applied to both male-female couples and male-male couples. Because the law focused exclusively on penile-anal penetration, consensual sex between women was technically legal in Kentucky until 1974. In fact, in 1909 the Kentucky Supreme Court issued a ruling in Commonwealth v. Poindexter involving two African-American men arrested for consensual oral sex. In this decision the court upheld that the then current sodomy law did not criminalize oral sex but only anal sex.

In 1974, Kentucky revised its statutes as part of a penal code reform advocated by the American Law Institute. While the American Law Institute urged states to decriminalize consensual sodomy and other victimless crimes, the Kentucky legislature chose to decriminalize anal sex involving male-female couples but to broaden the new statute to criminalize anal-genital, oral-genital, and oral-anal sexual contact involving same-sex couples (both male-male and female-female couples). [7] Thus, the 1974 revised statute decriminalized consensual anal sex for mixed-sex couples but expanded criminalization of sexual acts to include both male and female same-sex couples. Kentucky also reduced consensual sodomy from a felony to a misdemeanor in 1974. [8] It was this final remaining consensual sodomy statute, which criminalized only same-sex behavior, which was ruled unconstitutional by the Kentucky Supreme Court in Kentucky v. Wasson in 1992. [9]

Recognition of same-sex relationships

Map of Kentucky counties and cities that offer domestic partner benefits either county-wide or in particular cities. .mw-parser-output .legend{page-break-inside:avoid;break-inside:avoid-column}.mw-parser-output .legend-color{display:inline-block;min-width:1.25em;height:1.25em;line-height:1.25;margin:1px 0;text-align:center;border:1px solid black;background-color:transparent;color:black}.mw-parser-output .legend-text{} City offers domestic partner benefits County-wide partner benefits through domestic partnership County or city does not offer domestic partner benefits Kentucky counties and cities with domestic partnerships.png
Map of Kentucky counties and cities that offer domestic partner benefits either county-wide or in particular cities.
  City offers domestic partner benefits
  County-wide partner benefits through domestic partnership
  County or city does not offer domestic partner benefits

On November 9, 1973, the Kentucky Court of Appeals ruled in Jones v. Hallahan that two women were properly denied a marriage license based on dictionary definitions of marriage, despite the fact that state statutes do not restrict marriage to a female-male couple. Its decision said that "in substance, the relationship proposed ... is not a marriage." [10]

Kentucky voters adopted a constitutional amendment in November 2004 that defined marriage as the union of a man and a woman and prohibited the recognition of same-sex relationships under any other name. [11] Similar restrictions have appeared in the state statutes since July 1998 as well. [12]

Kentucky has extended hospital visitation rights to same-sex couples through a designated visitor statute. [13]

Federal lawsuits

Two lawsuits filed in federal court in (Bourke v. Beshear) 2013 and (Love v. Beshear) 2014 have challenged Kentucky's denial of marriage licenses to same-sex couples (Love case) as well as the state's refusal to recognize same-sex marriages established in other jurisdictions (Bourke case). The plaintiffs in the Bourke case won recognition of their marriages on February 12, 2014, and on February 14, 2014, the Love case was filed in order for couples to be allowed to marry in Kentucky. The Love was ruled on in July 2014 in the U.S. District Court in Louisville Kentucky. On appeal, the Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals heard oral arguments on August 6, 2014. The Sixth Circuit overturned the rules in favor of the same-sex couples from Kentucky, Ohio, Tennessee and Michigan. The cases were appealed to the U.S. Supreme Court under the Obergefell case name. On June 26, 2015, the Supreme Court ruled that all states in the U.S. were required to recognize the marriages of, and provide marriage licenses to same-sex couples. [14]

In September 2023, a same-sex couple won $100,000 awards in damages by a court jury because Kentucky county clerk Kim Davis denied a marriage license to the couple eight years earlier. [15]

Adoption and parenting

Kentucky permits adoption by individuals or married couples only. In February 2009 Senate Bill 68 (SB 68) [16] was introduced to the Kentucky Senate by Senator Gary Tapp (R-Waddy). If passed, SB 68 would have barred any unmarried cohabiting couples from fostering or adopting children in Kentucky. Many Kentucky fairness supporters, along with foster and adoption agencies, rallied against the bill. The Senate Judiciary Committee passed SB 68 in a hastily called, unadvertised meeting upon Senate adjournment March 5, 2009, [17] but it died when the legislative session ended without the full Senate putting SB 68 to a vote. This was the first time a piece of anti-LGBT legislation had passed a Kentucky Senate Committee without also passing the full chamber. [18] On January 5, 2010, House Bill 195 (HB 195) was introduced to the Kentucky House by Representative Tom Burch (D-Louisville). [19] If passed, HB 195 would have redefined stepparent to include any non-relative adult person who the court finds as sharing parental responsibility for the child. The House Health and Welfare Committee held an informational hearing on HB 195 on March 11, 2010—the first-ever hearing of a pro-LGBT piece of legislation in the Kentucky General Assembly. HB 195 did not receive a vote but further informational hearings were requested. [20]

Discrimination protections

Public employment

Public employment discrimination against state workers based on sexual orientation or gender identity is illegal under an executive order by Governor Steve Beshear (Democrat) in June 2008. Such discrimination was originally banned by an executive order by Governor Paul Patton (Democrat) under an executive order issued by him in 2003. When Republican Governor Ernie Fletcher took office, however, he removed these protections in 2006. Thus, Beshear's order reinstates such protections. [21]

In February 2013, Berea Mayor Steve Connelly banned discrimination on the basis of actual or perceived sexual orientation via executive order. The order applies only to the town's 130 public employees. [22]

Private employment

Nineteen Kentucky cities have local non-discrimination ordinances—or Fairness Ordinances—covering sexual orientation and gender identity: Lexington-Fayette County (1999), Louisville Metro (1999), Covington (2003), Frankfort (2013), Morehead (2013), Vicco (2013), Danville (2014), Midway (2015), Paducah (2018), Maysville (2018), Bellevue (2019), Dayton (2019), Georgetown (2019), Henderson (2019), Highland Heights (2019), Versailles (2019), Cold Spring (2020), Fort Thomas (2020), and Newport (2020). Henderson originally adopted a non-discrimination ordinance in 1999, but a subsequent group of city commissioners removed the protections in 2001. A similar ordinance was passed into law there in 2019. [23]

Some of Kentucky's largest employers also ban sexual orientation discrimination through company policies and include such employers as Lexmark, the University of Kentucky, the University of Louisville, Toyota, Ford Motor Company, General Electric, PNC Financial Services, Yum! Brands and United Parcel Service. [24]

In January 2013 Vicco, Kentucky, a town with a population of 334 as of the 2010 census with a gay mayor, Johnny Cummings, passed a town ordinance prohibiting "discrimination in employment, housing, and public accommodations based upon a person's actual or perceived sexual orientation and gender identity". Vicco joined Covington, which enacted a similar ordinance in 2003, and Lexington and Louisville, which did so in 1999. [25] [26] Vicco, KY was said to be the smallest town in the United States to pass such an ordinance. [27]

Religious Freedom Act of 2013

In March 2013, both houses of the Kentucky legislature passed the Religious Freedom Act which requires the state to show "clear and convincing evidence" for any statutes or policies that infringe on an individual's "sincerely held religious beliefs". [lower-alpha 1] The bill was supported by the Kentucky Family Foundation and the Kentucky Catholic Conference. More than 50 civil rights, public health, religious and other community groups urged Governor Steve Beshear to veto the legislation, including the Kentucky League of Cities, the Kentucky Association of Counties, the Kentucky ACLU and the mayors of Louisville and Covington. Opponents argued its wording was vague and could be used to override local non-discrimination ordinances. Supporters, including the bill's sponsor, Representative Bob Damron, argued it was needed to protect religious believers from state encroachment, citing the case of several Kentucky Amish who were arrested for refusing to put reflectors on their buggies when traveling government-maintained roads. Beshear vetoed the bill and the legislature overrode his veto by votes of 79–15 in the House and 32–6 in the Senate. [29]

Senate Bill 17

In March 2017 Kentucky Governor Matt Bevin signed into effect Senate Bill 17 (abbreviated as SB 17). This premise of this piece of legislation is to allow greater freedom of religion in public schools. Some of the main points of this law include allowing student religious organizations to use school facilities during non instructional hours, allowing students to display religious messages on clothing and allowing instructors to teach about religious holidays with the use of the Bible or other religious scriptures.

Controversy about this law stems from its implication that student religious organizations in public schools can discriminate against other students, for example, on the basis of their religious identity or sexual orientation. This conclusion is primarily drawn from the clause, "no recognized religious or political student organization is discriminated against in the ordering of its internal affairs."

Many advocates for LGBTQ-rights claim that this law is anti-LGBTQ, and that religious freedom is just a guise to limit the rights of LGBTQ students. Furthermore, there is also concern surrounding the fact that this law pertains to public schools, which receive federal funding and are therefore under many of its rules and limitations when comes to public education.

EEOC v. R.G. & G.R. Harris Funeral Homes

On March 7, 2018, the United States Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit (covering Kentucky, Michigan, Ohio and Tennessee) ruled that Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 prohibits employment discrimination against transgender people under the category of sex. It also ruled that employers may not use the Religious Freedom Restoration Act to justify discrimination against LGBTQ people. Aimee Stephens, a transgender woman, began working for a funeral home and presented as male. In 2013, she told her boss that she was transgender and planned to transition. She was promptly fired by her boss who said that "gender transition violat[es] God’s commands because a person’s sex is an immutable God-given fit." [30] With this decision, discrimination in the workplace based on gender identity is now banned in Kentucky.

2020 Photographer marriage court ruling

In August 2020, a district court judge appointed by Trump allowed a photographer within Kentucky to refuse taking pictures of a same-sex marriage - due to an individual's held religious affiliation and beliefs. [31] [32]

In his ruling, the judge wrote that “Christian” photographer Chelsey Walker cannot be compelled to take photos of same-sex weddings, even though she offers her photography as a public business, because her photos are “art” and art is a form of “speech.” Therefore, no government can force people to make any speech against their will. The judge said that requiring her to take photos of gay weddings would also go against Walker's religious beliefs.

Hate crime law

Kentucky statutes cover hate crimes based on sexual orientation but not gender identity. [33]

On March 15, 2012, the Kentucky State Police assisted the FBI in arresting David Jenkins, Anthony Jenkins, Mable Jenkins, and Alexis Jenkins of Partridge for the beating of Kevin Pennington during a late-night attack in April 2011 at Kingdom Come State Park, [34] [35] near Cumberland. The push came from the gay rights group Kentucky Equality Federation, whose president, Jordan Palmer, began lobbying the U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Kentucky in August 2011 to prosecute after stating he had no confidence in the Harlan County Commonwealth's Attorney to act. [36] [37] "I think the case's notoriety may have derived in large part from the Kentucky Equality Federation efforts," said Harvey, the U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Kentucky. [38] Mable Jenkins and Alexis Jenkins pleaded guilty. [38]

Transgender rights

Kentucky permits post-operative transgender people to amend their sex on their birth certificates. [39] A letter from the doctor stating that gender affirming surgery has been performed can be sent directly to the Department of Vital Statistics in Frankfort, prior to this, a Court Order was required for the gender change for a Kentucky born person.

Minors cannot receive gender-affirming care as of July 14, 2023. [40] There is no phaseout period for those already receiving such care. On September 28, 2023, federal appeals judges allowed the ban to remain in effect while legal challenges to overturn it are pending. [41]

Transgender sports ban

In March 2022, the Kentucky General Assembly passed a bill (SB83) to ban transgender individuals from female sports teams. The Governor of Kentucky Andy Beshear vetoed the bill a month later in April 2022, due to "constitutionality and legal vagueness concerns". In the same month, the Kentucky General Assembly overrode the veto, and the law went into effect immediately. [42] [43] [44] [45] [46]

House Bill 470

In February 2023, Republican state legislators introduced House Bill 470, which would do the following:

  • Ban gender affirming healthcare for trans minors
  • Ban public funding for any entity that provides or assists in the providing gender affirming healthcare to trans youth, including pharmaceutical companies, even if it is only provided out of state
  • Ban medical professionals and therapists from encouraging or advocating for the use of a name, pronouns, clothing, or behavior not typically associated with their assigned gender by a trans minor.
  • Bans the state from making Medicaid contracts with insurance companies that cover gender affirming healthcare for trans youth, even if only out of state
  • Mandate reporting by school employees of any deviation by a minor in expression from their assigned gender.
  • Ban legal document changes for trans youth, including name changes.
  • Strip liability protections from doctors that previously provided gender affirming healthcare to trans youth, and allow them to be sued up to 30 years later for such.
  • Mandate any doctor or therapist reported to be encouraging such aforementioned deviation be investigated by the state.
  • Define sex for the purposes of law as solely one’s assigned sex at birth.

[47] [48] [49] [50]

A Mason-Dixon poll found that 71% of Kentuckians opposed the bill, while 21% were in favor, and 8% undecided. [51]

On March 2, 2023, the state House judiciary committee advanced the bill. Within hours, the full House passed the bill, sending it on to the state senate. Protests simultaneously took place both inside and outside the state capitol, with chanting audible while the House passed the bill. [52] [53] On March 17, 2023, the legislature passed a version of an anti-transgender bill that included the ban on gender-affirming care for minors. The Governor of Kentucky vetoed the bill. The Legislature has the power to override the veto with just a formal "simple majority vote" in each house. [54] On March 29, the GOP-led legislature overrode the veto, while protests took place in the gallery. Once the veto was overrode and the bill passed into law, police arrested 19 protesters and charged them with criminal trespassing. [55]

Conversion therapy

Conversion therapy on minors is illegal in Kentucky since September 18, 2024, when Governor Beshear signed an executive order. [56]

Several cities in Kentucky had previously banned it: the first was Covington in March 2020 (by a vote of 5–0), [57] [58] the second was Louisville in September 2020 (by a vote of 24–1), [59] [60] [61] [62] and the third was Lexington in May 2021 (by a unanimous vote by the Lexington-Fayette Urban County Council). [63] [64]

See also

Notes

  1. ↑ The Religious Freedom Act reads: "Government shall not substantially burden a person's freedom of religion. The right to act or refuse to act in a manner motivated by a sincerely held religious belief may not be substantially burdened unless the government proves by clear and convincing evidence that it has a compelling governmental interest in infringing the specific act or refusal to act and has used the least restrictive means to further that interest. A 'burden' shall include indirect burdens such as withholding benefits, assessing penalties or an exclusion from programs or access to facilities." [28]

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Fairness Campaign</span>

The Fairness Campaign is a Louisville, Kentucky-based lobbying and advocacy organization, focusing primarily on preventing discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation and gender identity. The Fairness Campaign is recognized by the IRS as a 501(c)(4) organization. The organization is a member of the Equality Federation.

References

  1. ↑ Jones, Robert P.; Cox, Daniel; Griffin, Robert; Fisch-Friedman, Molly; Vandermaas-Peeler, Alex (2017). "Emerging Consensus on LGBT Issues, Findings from the 2017 American Values Atlas" (PDF). Public Religion Research Institute . Retrieved May 18, 2024.
  2. ↑ Roarty, Alex (August 15, 2016). "Kentucky Has a Gay Senate Candidate — Does Anybody Care?". Roll Call.
  3. ↑ Phillip M. Bailey (October 27, 2011). "Yarmuth Commemorates Fairness Campaign's 20th Anniversary". Archives.wfpl.org. Archived from the original on October 17, 2013. Retrieved November 2, 2013.
  4. ↑ "Kentucky. It's a State of Fairness". Fairness Coalition. Archived from the original on June 29, 2015. Retrieved November 2, 2013.
  5. ↑ "ACLU of Kentucky - Fairness Coalition to Hire EKY Regional Organizer". Aclu-ky.org. July 17, 2012. Archived from the original on October 17, 2013. Retrieved November 2, 2013.
  6. ↑ Aldridge, Michael. "Ky. should keep leading on fairness for all its citizens | Op-Ed". Kentucky.com. Retrieved November 2, 2013.
  7. ↑ Morrison, Matthew (2001). "Currents in the Stream: The Evolving Legal Status of Gay and Lesbian Persons in Kentucky". Kentucky Law Journal. 89 (4).
  8. ↑ William N. Eskridge, Dishonorable Passions: Sodomy Laws in America, 1861–2003 (NY: Penguin Group, 2008), 201n, available online, accessed April 10, 2010
  9. ↑ Commonwealth v. Wasson, accessed April 13, 2011
  10. ↑ Cantor, Donald J.; et al. (2006). Same-Sex Marriage: The Legal and Psychological Evolution in America. Middletown, CT: Wesleyan University Press. pp. 117–8. ISBN   9780819568120. Kentucky Court of Appeals: Jones v. Callahan, November 9, 1973
  11. ↑ CNN: 2004 Ballot Measures, accessed April 13, 2011
  12. ↑ "Current Kentucky Laws". Marriage Equality Kentucky. Retrieved March 9, 2014.
  13. ↑ "Hospital Visitation Laws" (PDF). Hrc.org. Archived from the original (PDF) on July 29, 2014. Retrieved July 17, 2014.
  14. ↑ See Obergefell v. Hodges, 576 U.S. 644 (2015), https://supreme.justia.com/cases/federal/us/576/14-556/
  15. ↑ "Jury awards $100,000 to Kentucky gay couple denied marriage license". NBC News. Associated Press. September 13, 2023. Retrieved May 18, 2024.
  16. ↑ "09RS SB68". Lrc.ky.gov. Archived from the original on October 17, 2013. Retrieved November 2, 2013.
  17. ↑ "Senate Judiciary Committee | Kentucky General Assembly Live | KET Video". Ket.org. March 5, 2009. Retrieved November 2, 2013.[ permanent dead link ]
  18. ↑ mginter. "Kentucky Tonight - Adoption and Unmarried Couples | Home Page". KET. Archived from the original on October 17, 2013. Retrieved November 2, 2013.
  19. ↑ "10RS HB195". Lrc.ky.gov. Archived from the original on October 17, 2013. Retrieved November 2, 2013.
  20. ↑ "ACLU of Kentucky - LGBT Rights". Aclu-ky.org. Archived from the original on October 17, 2013. Retrieved November 2, 2013.
  21. ↑ "Governor Beshear Restores Employment Fairness Protection to State Government". Governor Steve Beshear's Communications Office. Archived from the original on February 11, 2015. Retrieved December 12, 2013.
  22. ↑ "Kentucky city to enact protections for gay city workers". Huntington, WV, Herald-Dispatch. February 2, 2013. Retrieved December 12, 2013.
  23. ↑ "11th Kentucky city adopts Fairness Ordinance protecting LGBT residents from discrimination".
  24. ↑ Human Rights Campaign. "Equality Index 2013" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on July 28, 2020. Retrieved April 3, 2013.
  25. ↑ "Vicco, Kentucky Approves LGBT Fairness Law". Lex18. January 14, 2013. Archived from the original on August 19, 2013. Retrieved August 19, 2013.
  26. ↑ "Vicco, Kentucky Approves LGBT Fairness Law | LEX18.com | Lexington, Kentucky". LEX18.com. January 14, 2013. Archived from the original on October 23, 2013. Retrieved November 2, 2013.
  27. ↑ Morgan, Glennisha (January 24, 2013). "Vicco, Smallest Town In Kentucky, Passes LGBT Non-Discrimination Law". Huffington Post. Retrieved August 19, 2013.
  28. ↑ Brammer, Jack and Beth Musgrave (March 30, 2013). "Tom Eblen: Parsing Gray's tepid response to 'religious freedom' bill Kentucky's religious freedom bill divided politicians, public, ministers". Lexington Herald-Leader. Retrieved April 3, 2013.
  29. ↑ Louisville Courier-Journal (March 27, 2013). "Kentucky legislature overwhelmingly overrides veto of 'religious freedom' bill" . Retrieved April 3, 2013.
  30. ↑ "Businesses Can't Fire Trans Employees for Religious Reasons, Federal Appeals Court Rules in Landmark Decision". Slate. March 7, 2018.
  31. ↑ "Trump-Appointed Judge Says It's Constitutional for Businesses to Refuse Gay Customers". August 15, 2020.
  32. ↑ "Kentucky wedding photographer denied to work with same-sex marriage photoshoot". August 27, 2020.
  33. ↑ Human Resources Campaign: Kentucky Hate Crimes Law Archived May 24, 2011, at the Wayback Machine , accessed April 13, 2011
  34. ↑ "2 Kentucky men face first-of-their-kind federal hate-crime charges". Lexington Herald-Leader. March 15, 2012.
  35. ↑ "Two Harlan County, Kentucky, Men Indicted for Federal Hate Crime Against Individual Because of Sexual Orientation; The Indictment Marks the First Case Charged Under the Matthew Shepard and James Byrd Jr. Hate Crimes Prevention Act Involving Sexual Orientation". United States Department of Justice. April 12, 2012.
  36. ↑ "Kentucky Equality Federation communicates with the U.S. Department of Justice about Harlan County Hate Crime". Kentucky Equality Federation Official Press Releases - Copy of request to prosecute included. August 24, 2011.
  37. ↑ "Kentucky advocacy group pushes first federal hate crime arrests". Associated Press. March 15, 2013.
  38. 1 2 "David Jason Jenkins, Anthony Ray Jenkins Face Life In Anti-Gay Attack Under New U.S. Hate Crime Law". The Huffington Post. April 18, 2012.
  39. ↑ Human Resources Campaign: Kentucky Hate Crimes Law Archived May 23, 2011, at the Wayback Machine , accessed April 13, 2011
  40. ↑ Schreiner, Bruce; Lovan, Dylan (July 14, 2023). "Kentucky's ban on gender-affirming care takes effect as federal judge lifts injunction". AP News. Retrieved October 7, 2023.
  41. ↑ Mattise, Jonathan (September 29, 2023). "Judges maintain bans on gender-affirming care for youth in Tennessee and Kentucky". AP News. Retrieved October 7, 2023.
  42. ↑ "Kentucky legislature overrides governor's veto of transgender sports ban". NBC News. April 13, 2022. Retrieved April 14, 2022.
  43. ↑ Sprayregen, Molly (April 7, 2022). "Kentucky governor vetoes trans sports ban calling it "most likely" unconstitutional". LGBTQ Nation. Retrieved April 14, 2022.
  44. ↑ "Kentucky Gov. Vetoes Anti-Trans Sports Bill, But Override Possible". www.advocate.com. April 6, 2022. Retrieved April 14, 2022.
  45. ↑ Levesque, Brody (March 24, 2022). "Kentucky anti-Trans youth sports bill heads to governor for signature". Los Angeles Blade: LGBTQ News, Rights, Politics, Entertainment. Retrieved April 14, 2022.
  46. ↑ "Kentucky SB83 | 2022 | Regular Session".
  47. ↑ "Gender transition services would be prohibited to anyone under 18 with this KY bill". CBS. February 22, 2023.
  48. ↑ "KY House moving quickly to pass bill barring gender transition services for minors". Lexington Herald. February 22, 2023.
  49. ↑ "Kentuckians concerned about anti-trans bill that would penalize, criminalize health care workers". ABC. February 23, 2023.
  50. ↑ AN ACT relating to the protection of children (PDF) (House Bill 470). Kentucky State Legislature. February 21, 2023.
  51. ↑ "Poll: 71% of Ky. voters oppose bill that would allow state to overrule parents' healthcare decisions for transgender teens". ABC. February 24, 2023.
  52. ↑ "Bill banning gender-affirming care for Kentuckians under 18 passes in House, 75-22". March 2, 2023.
  53. ↑ "Kentucky House advances bill to ban gender transition services for trans youths".
  54. ↑ "Kentucky governor vetoes sweeping GOP transgender measure". NBC News . March 24, 2023.
  55. ↑ "GOP lawmakers override veto of transgender bill in Kentucky". AP.
  56. ↑ Schreiner, Bruce (September 18, 2024). "Governor bans use of 'conversion therapy' on LGBTQ+ minors in Kentucky". AP News. Retrieved September 18, 2024.
  57. ↑ "Covington first city in state to ban 'conversion therapy'". ABC 36 News. March 25, 2020. Retrieved April 14, 2022.
  58. ↑ "Covington Bans Conversion Therapy For LGBTQ+ Minors". WVXU. March 27, 2020. Retrieved April 14, 2022.
  59. ↑ "Metro Council votes to ban 'conversion therapy' in Louisville". ABC 36 News. September 18, 2020. Retrieved April 14, 2022.
  60. ↑ "Metro Council Bans Conversion Therapy". spectrumnews1.com. Retrieved April 14, 2022.
  61. ↑ López, Canela. "Louisville, Kentucky, has finally banned conversion therapy, but the practice is still legal in over half the US". Insider. Retrieved April 14, 2022.
  62. ↑ "Louisville, Kentucky Mayor Signs Ban On Harmful Gay 'Conversion Therapy' - Towleroad Gay News". October 3, 2020. Retrieved April 14, 2022.
  63. ↑ "Lexington bans 'conversion therapy' for LGBTQ youths". May 7, 2021.
  64. ↑ "Discredited conversion therapy banned in Fayette County". AP NEWS. May 8, 2021. Retrieved April 14, 2022.
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