Kentucky Governor: There’s no need for ‘silly’ anti-trans bathroom law
The Governor of Kentucky has said there’s no need to pass an anti-trans bathroom law.
A wave of anti-LGBT legislation has been spreading across Republican-controlled state legislatures over the past year aiming at rolling back LGBT anti-discrimination protections, with a number focusing on provisions to prevent transgender people using their chosen bathroom.
Despite some early successes with the strategy, the issue has become increasingly messy for Republicans – with North Carolina’s Governor Pat McCrory facing a humiliating defeat in his re-election battle last month after signing contentious anti-trans law HB 2. Polling showed the issue was decisive in the knife-edge race.
Following McCrory’s self-implosion, it appears that some Republicans are backing away from the issue.
The Republican Governor of Kentucky, Matt Bevin, has this week insisted that there was no need for legislation targeted at the transgender bathroom issue.
Governor Bevin’s stance marks an apparent turn-around from his previous position, given he joined a multi-slate lawsuit earlier this year suing the federal government over a directive about transgender pupils in schools.
He now insists it is “not an issue” in Kentucky.
According to the Lexington Herald Leader he said: ““Why? Why would we? Why would anybody need it? Is it an issue? Is there anyone you know in Kentucky who has trouble going to the bathroom?
“Seriously. Have you heard of one person in Kentucky having trouble taking care of business in Kentucky?
“The last thing we need is more government rules… making government rules for things that don’t even need government rules would be silly.”
