FRANKFORT, Ky. — A bill banning the use of tax dollars for hormone treatment and gender reassignment for transgender inmates is one step closer to becoming law.

What You Need To Know

  • Senate Bill 2 would prohibit public funds being used on hormone therapy and transgender surgeries in prisons 

  • The bill passed committee on Thursday with favorable expression 

  • Opponents of the bill say it is a violation of the Eighth Amendment 

  • The House also has a more expansive bill outlawing cross-sex hormones and surgeries 

Kentucky’s correctional facilities have 67 inmates on cross-sex hormones, yet no inmate has had sex reassignment surgery. Sponsor Majority Whip Mike Wilson, R-Bowling Green, said the priority legislation is necessary after lawmakers discovered the justice cabinet was providing these services through an unofficial memo since 2021.

“The reason this is needed is to make sure that this is in statute, so they don’t go back to doing it illegally by memo,” Wilson said.

Every Republican has signed on as a cosponsor to Senate Bill 2. But democrats and advocates in the LGBTQ+ community call it a violation of the Eighth Amendment. The amendment protects people from excessive bail, fine and cruel and unusual punishment. Transgender former inmate Hannah Callahan said that losing access to hormone treatment in Indiana nearly drove her to suicide.

“Those weeks without medical treatment were an absolute nightmare. Suddenly my body and mind began to change, and I had a rapid decrease in body fat and other physical side effects that triggered extreme gender dysphoria, body dysmorphia and mental anguish,” Callahan said.

Chris Hartman, executive director of the Fairness Campaign, said it’s no different from taking away insulin from a diabetic.

“It is cruel and unusual punishment to deny medically necessary care that is approved by physicians and every major medical association across the United States,” Harman said.

Hartman said it’s another attack on a small portion of the overall population in Kentucky.

“I’m disappointed that this is once again the focus that the Kentucky General Assembly is taking to attack one of our most vulnerable communities,” Hartman said.

The bill passed in committee Thursday, even though one Republican chose not to vote saying they needed more information, and both Democrats on the committee voted “no.”

Senate Bill 2 will now be voted on by the full Senate. The House has a more comprehensive bill pertaining to hormones and transition operations, House Bill 5, it was introduced Wednesday.

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