x-posted from GD: Kentucky GOP lawmakers vote to protect conversion therapy

[Eugene]

Original DU thread: Kentucky GOP lawmakers vote to protect conversion therapy in General Discussion

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Source: Associated Press

Kentucky GOP lawmakers vote to protect conversion therapy

By BRUCE SCHREINER
Updated 12:30 PM EDT, March 17, 2025

FRANKFORT, Ky. (AP) — Kentucky’s Republican lawmakers have passed a measure to protect conversion therapy for LGBTQ+ youths as part of a bill that also would outlaw the use of Medicaid funds to pay for gender-affirming health care for transgender Kentucky residents.

The House vote occurred late Friday, less than an hour before the midnight deadline for the GOP-supermajority legislature to pass bills and retain its ability to override gubernatorial vetoes. The bill passed after the Senate version that prohibited the use of Medicaid was accepted by the House.

Conversion therapy is the scientifically discredited practice of using therapy to “convert” LGBTQ+ people to heterosexuality or traditional gender expectations.

GOP lawmakers voted to remove restrictions that Democratic Gov. Andy Beshear placed on the practice last year. He banned spending tax dollars to pay for the practice on minors, saying his executive order was needed to protect children. The order directed licensing boards to consider adopting strong policies disciplining someone found to have practiced conversion therapy on minors.

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Read more: https://apnews.com/article/conversion-therapy-kentucky-cf61c100f6aad954a43e45f25dbd316c