Author
Beshear vetoes anti-trans, ‘parents rights’ bill
Democrat Gov. Andy Beshear on Friday vetoed a bill that would, among other things, ban gender-affirming care for Kentucky’s transgender minors. The legislation, Senate Bill 150, was passed by the Kentucky legislature in mid-March. Beshear’s veto was not surprising – in 2020 he became the first sitting Kentucky governor to attend an LGBTQ+ fairness rally. […]
Kentucky governor signs biomarker testing for cancer patients into law
Starting Jan. 1, Kentucky health plans will have to cover biomarker testing, which advocates have said can improve the state’s cancer statistics. The General Assembly passed — and Gov. Andy Beshear on Thursday signed into law — House Bill 180, which received bipartisan support during this legislative session. Beshear called the legislation “another step forward […]
Beshear signs bill to address shortage of health care workers in Kentucky
Gov. Andy Beshear on Wednesday signed a bill aimed at addressing Kentucky’s health care workforce shortage. House Bill 200, which received bipartisan support from legislators, will create a health care workforce fund with private-public partnership administered by the Council on Postsecondary Education (CPE). “This broad-reaching initiative helps nurses, nurses aides, mental health counselors, dental hygienist, […]
Threats shut down Eastern Kentucky drag show fundraiser
After at least a dozen threats, a Prestonsburg drag show fundraiser originally scheduled for Saturday has been canceled. Organizer Kyle May said the wave of threats came after he spoke with a local news outlet to promote the fundraiser, which he estimated could have raised around $3,000. Called “Come As You Are,” the show was […]
Transgender teen: Anti-LGBTQ bills mean Kentucky doesn’t want me here
This story discusses suicide and anti-LGBTQ attacks. If you or someone you know is contemplating suicide, please call or text the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 988. The Trevor Project, which aims to end suicide among LGBTQ+ youth, also has trained counselors available around the clock. Reach them at 1-866-488-7386, via chat at https://www.thetrevorproject.org/get-help/, or […]
Kentucky legislature passes anti-trans bill
If you or someone you know is contemplating suicide, please call or text the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 988. The Trevor Project, which aims to end suicide among LGBTQ+ youth, also has trained counselors available around the clock. Reach them at 1-866-488-7386, via chat at https://www.thetrevorproject.org/get-help/, or by texting START to 678678. FRANKFORT — […]
Anti-trans bill paused in Senate as Republicans split
FRANKFORT — The Kentucky Senate narrowly voted to postpone consideration of House Bill 470 — after adopting a floor amendment that loosened the controversial bill’s health-care restrictions on trans youth. The 19-17 vote came at 9:34 p.m. Wednesday after two breaks for closed-door Republican caucuses. Sen. Danny Carroll, R-Benton, proposed cutting about 30 pages of […]
Postpartum depression bill has now cleared both Kentucky chambers
This story mentions suicide. If you or someone you know is contemplating suicide, please call or text the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 988. FRANKFORT — A bill aimed at providing education and resources for new parents who may face postpartum depression has now cleared both Kentucky chambers. Senate Bill 135, sponsored by Sen. Shelley […]
Advanced practice nurses in Kentucky will have more prescribing authority under new law
For years, Beth Partin has practiced medicine in rural Kentucky through a collaborative agreement with a physician. Because her husband is a physician, Partin – who has a Doctor of Nursing Practice degree – said she hasn’t had an issue getting a provider to sign an agreement with her in compliance with a state law […]
Republican senator proposes rewrite of anti-trans legislation, other floor amendments filed
FRANKFORT — A Republican senator proposed striking much of anti-trans House Bill 470 after Senate Republicans caucused behind closed doors for three hours Tuesday. A floor amendment filed around 8 p.m. Tuesday narrows the prohibitions in HB 470 and would give parents more leeway than the original bill to make health care decisions for their […]
Bill mandating detention, opening crime records of some juveniles has cleared both chambers
FRANKFORT — A Republican-backed bill that would reopen a juvenile detention center in Louisville and open some minors’ confidential records has now cleared both chambers of the Kentucky legislature. House Bill 3 passed the House in late February and the Senate on Tuesday along party lines, 29-7. Democrats argued unsuccessfully against the bill’s mandatory detention […]
Kentucky legislature advances anti-trans bill
This story mentions suicide. If you or someone you know is contemplating suicide, please call or text the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 988. The Trevor Project, which aims to end suicide among LGBTQ+ youth, also has trained counselors available around the clock. Reach them at 1-866-488-7386, via chat at https://www.thetrevorproject.org/get-help/, or by texting START […]