On Wednesday, Kentucky Republican legislators overcame the Democratic governor’s veto on a bill that regulates some of the most intimate aspects of transgender youth life. It covers everything from restricting their access to gender-affirming healthcare to banning access to public bathrooms.

The votes to override Gov. Andy Beshear’s vote to override Gov. was overwhelmingly voted for in both legislative chambers, where the GOP has supermajorities. It came on the last day of the legislative session this year. To override Beshear’s veto, the Senate voted 29-8. The House override was completed by a vote of 76-23.

After a long chanting in the chamber, protesters from the House gallery took their place and were arrested. As they waited for their arrest, the protesters held on to their hands and chanted “there are more of us here”

After the sergeant of arm requested assistance to restore order, Kentucky State Police stated that 19 people were taken into custody and charged with third-degree criminal Trespassing. According to Capt. Paul Blanton, spokesperson for the state police.

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“It’s sad that it got to that level, and they were given, I’ve been informed since then, multiple chances to either silence their chants, or leave voluntarily,” Republican House Speaker David Osborne stated later.

Opponents of the bill framed it as a civil rights fight. Democratic Rep. Sarah Stalker stated that Kentucky would be “on the wrong side” of history by adopting the measure.

As he seeks to be reelected for a second term, the debate over the transgender bill is likely to spill over into this year’s gubernatorial election. GOP condemnation of Beshear’s veto draws criticism from the GOP. Another legal battle is also in the works. American Civil Liberties Union of Kentucky reiterated that it will “take this fight before the courts” in an effort to protect young transgender individuals’ access to health care.

“While we lost in the legislative battle, our defeat was temporary. Chris Hartman, executive Director of the Fairness Campaign, a LGBTQ+ advocacy group, said that we will not lose in court.

David Walls, executive Director of The Family Foundation, praised the bill’s veto override and said that it “policy in accord with the truth” that each child was created as a male and female. He or she should be loved, treated with dignity, and accepted for what they are.

Both sides of the passionate debate met at the statehouse to make their competing appeals, before legislators took up the transgender bill after an extended break.

Sun Pacyga, a trans teenager, held up a sign summarizing a grim review about Republican legislation at a rally that attracted hundreds of transgender rights supporters. The sign said: “Our blood is upon your hands.”

The 17-year old student stated that if the bill passes, it will restrict access to gender-affirming healthcare. He believes trans children will die as a result. She also expressed concern that the bill’s critics might increase suicide rates among teens.

Bill supporters gathered to defend the measure, arguing that it protects trans kids from gender-affirming treatment they may regret later in life. However, such regret is uncommon according to research.

At a rally, Republican Rep. Shane Baker stated that “We cannot allow people continue down the pathway of fantasy to where they’re going down 10, 20, 30 years later and find themselves miserable because of decisions they made when they was young.”

Kentucky’s legislation is part of a larger national movement. This year, state legislators approved extensive measures restricting the rights of LGBTQ+ persons. These measures range from bills that target trans athletes and drag performers to those that limit gender-affirming care.

Alabama, Arkansas and Georgia have all passed laws banning or restricting gender-affirming care for minors. Alabama and Arkansas laws have been blocked by federal judges, while nearly two dozen other states are currently considering legislation to ban or restrict care.

The Kentucky legislature debate reflected the passionate arguments made at rallies.

Democratic Senator Karen Berg, a Democratic senator, said that the bill was “denying families, their doctors and their therapists” the right to make medically informed decisions about their families. Berg read the letter her son Henry Berg-Brousseau wrote shortly before his death at 24. His mother confirmed that suicide was the cause.

Robby Mills, Republican Senator, said that he supported the bill due to his conviction that “puberty blocksers and cross-sex hormonals” when given to minors under 18 for the purpose altering their appearance are dangerous for their health.

Transgender medical treatment has been around for a long time in America and is endorsed by major medical organizations.

Kentucky’s measure will prohibit gender-affirming care for minors. It will ban gender reassignment surgery on anyone younger than 18, and the use of hormones and puberty blockers.

Doctors will need to establish a time frame to “detransition” children who are already on hormone therapy or puberty blockers. If the child is not able to be treated immediately, they could still provide care.

The bill’s parts dealing with gender-affirming medicine will be in effect for three months.

Schools will not be allowed to discuss sexual orientation and gender identity with any student of any age under the bill. The bill will require school districts to create bathroom policies that “at a minimum” won’t allow transgender students to use the same bathroom as their gender identities.

Teachers will be able to refuse to refer transgender students to their pronouns. Schools must also notify parents when lessons about human sexuality are being taught.

Hazel Hardesty, a trans teenager, stated that the possible discontinuation of gender-affirming healthcare would mean that “my male puberty will continue” which would cause “a lot of mental distress.”

In an interview, the 16-year old said that “people don’t even know how it feels.” “Going through the wrong puberty means that every day your body feels a little further away from what it should feel like.” You may eventually not even recognize yourself when you look in the mirror.