Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear has vetoed several nasty anti-LGBTQ+ bills and the reason why is surprisingly refreshing. Beshear, a member of the Democratic party has historically had more progressive stances despite Kentucky’s status as a primarily red state. When it comes to topline issues for voters, Beshear has consistently leaned left, supporting abortion access, educators and other public-facing professions, equal pay, safe gun laws and more.
Beshear also signaled his support for the LGBTQ+ community after vetoing some harsh legislation. In September he banned the use of conversion therapy statewide saying “Let’s be clear: conversion therapy has no basis in medicine or science, and it has been shown to increase rates of suicide and depression. This is about doing what is right and protecting our children. Hate is not who we are as Kentuckians.”
While many politicians use anti-trans and anti-LGBTQ+ rhetoric to distract from more pressing issues, Beshear has been quick to recenter conversations about politics to lift people up rather than tearing them down. “I voted down one of the nastiest anti-LGBTQ+ bills that my state had ever seen, in my election year,” he said. “But I did two things. Number one: I talked about why. That’s my faith, where I’m taught that all children are children of God, and I wanted to stick up for children [who] were being picked on.”
That nasty bill Beshear vetoed would have forced Kentucky minors to detransition due to a ban on gender-affirming care, according to Pink News.
