Kentucky Governor Andy Beshear Defends Transgender Policies Amid Criticism

Kentucky Democratic Governor Andy Beshear appeared on CNN’s ‘State of the Union’ to address his stance on transgender issues, emphasizing that his party values compassion and empathy. Beshear faced questions from host Jake Tapper regarding his veto of a bill that would have barred transgender students from participating in girls’ and women’s sports.

Beshear defended his veto of Kentucky’s Senate Bill 83, which aimed to prohibit male students from joining girls’ sports teams from sixth grade through college. He pointed out that, at the time, Kentucky had only one transgender athlete and stressed his approach of fairness and inclusivity. The Republican-controlled legislature ultimately overrode Beshear’s veto.

“We don’t throw anybody under the bus,” Beshear stated on CNN. “That is not the party that we are. We start as a party of compassion and empathy. If you want to ruin sports, put government in charge.”

RNC National Press Secretary Natalie Baldassarre criticized Beshear’s stance on transgender policies, suggesting he prioritized these policies over the interests of female athletes. In her statement to Fox News Digital, Baldassarre accused Beshear of compromising girls’ safety for political gain.

Beshear reiterated on CNN that athletic competitions should remain fair and noted that Kentucky’s existing regulations aligned with maintaining competitive fairness. He highlighted that the Kentucky High School Athletic Association already had rules in place, which prevented unfair advantages from occurring.

Senate Bill 83 was meant to ensure sports teams for girls and women were based on biological sex. However, it did not address transgender medical treatments for minors. A separate bill, Senate Bill 150, included restrictions on medical treatments and school policies, which Governor Beshear also vetoed. The legislature overrode this veto as well.

Beshear justified his 2022 veto by asserting that existing regulations were adequate for ensuring fair competition. These regulations required athletes to participate based on their birth certificate sex and offered a pathway for transgender athletes who met specific medical criteria.

Beshear’s campaign argued that his veto of SB 150 was rooted in concerns over parental rights and mental health, not specifically targeting the ban on sex-change surgeries for minors. Despite the controversies, Beshear remains committed to ensuring fair and inclusive policies.

Fox News Digital reached out to Governor Beshear for additional comments but did not receive an immediate response.