Transgender Kentuckians are bracing for a direct impact from a contentious bill that is expected to become law after state lawmakers pushed it through at the last minute in Frankfort.
“I live in a one-income household, so money is tight for us,” said Carma Bell Marshall, a 35-year-old trans woman from Louisville. “It has worked wonders for my mental health. It has significantly improved my attitude on life. I believe that if I did not have it, my life would be considerably darker right now.”
For several months, Medicaid has financed Carma Bell Marshall’s hormone treatment. But that could all change soon, and she may have to pay a couple hundred dollars out of pocket each month.
“We’re just trying to exclude one set of individuals because it’s an easy way for Republicans to [incite] outrage and gain support. And it’s a very sad and gloomy day here in Kentucky,” Marshall told WHAS11 on Monday.
The vote to enact House Bill 495, one of the most contentious pieces of legislation this year, was split along party lines. It is intended to protect conversion therapy, a highly discredited form of counseling, in Kentucky while prohibiting the state’s Medicaid program from covering gender transition treatment.
The final 67-19 House floor vote occurred an hour before the midnight deadline, kicking off a period of several days in which Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear will decide which bills to sign into law and which to veto. Beshear has committed to veto HB 495, but the Republican-controlled legislature has the authority to overturn his decision.
Marshall tells WHAS11 that healthcare for thousands of Kentuckians may soon be disrupted.
“We have Kentuckians who are actively contemplating suicide and leaving the state where they have lived their entire lives. “I’ve even considered whether Kentucky is a safe place for me to live and exist,” she said.
According to advocacy groups, transgender people in Kentucky account for less than 1% of the state’s population. However, it was evident that they were the focus of this parliamentary session.
“What we don’t talk about is the dangers of what happens to a child who’s told something that isn’t true over and over again,” State Sen. Lindsey Tichenor (R-Smithfield) said before the bill passed on the Senate floor on March 13. “And we need to start allowing children to grow and develop and process those things on their own, and not be forced to affirm them in a position that is contrary to reality.”
Marshall says state legislatures are under pressure from executive orders issued by the White House and the Trump administration.
“They’re receiving orders from the top. We see that all around the United States. “All states are falling in line,” she said.
If you or someone you know requires assistance, remember that the suicide prevention hotline is accessible 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Simply call 988.
