FRANKFORT, Ky. (July 14, 2023) – Attorney General Daniel Cameron today secured a legal victory pausing the district court’s decision which had prevented enforcement of a section of Senate Bill 150. The commonsense law protects children from the irreversible effects of experimental drug treatments like puberty blockers and cross-sex hormones. SB 150 is now fully in force.
“Today’s ruling is a win for parents and children. I’m grateful to the district court for doing what the law requires, which is protecting Kentucky kids from the irreversible harms that these experimental drug treatments would cause,” said Attorney General Cameron. “Moving forward, my office will continue to defend Senate Bill 150 and stand up for the right of children to be children, free from the influences of leftist activists and radical gender ideology.”
The General Assembly passed SB 150 during the 2023 Regular Session. The legislation prioritizes the health, safety, and welfare of children and safeguards them from, among other things, irreversible medical treatments, and ideological indoctrination in schools. Governor Beshear vetoed the sweeping legislation, and the General Assembly overrode his veto by overwhelming margins.
Lawyers from the American Civil Liberties Union and the National Center for Lesbian Rights sued to block enforcement of a section of the law that would revoke the licenses of physicians who perform so-called “gender-affirming care” on minors. Last month, the district court ruled in their favor, prompting Attorney General Cameron to immediately seek emergency relief in both the district court and the Sixth Circuit.
“By securing a stay of the district court’s injunction, Attorney General Cameron demonstrates his willingness to fight for the rule of law and the protection of Kentucky’s children,” said State Representative Jennifer Decker, who helped pass the legislation in the House. “It is well within the legislature’s power to ban the experimental use of off-label drugs that cause long-term, irreversible consequences for children, and it is fortunate that today’s ruling allows SB 150 to take effect pending the Attorney General’s appeal.”
The emergency motion, and the resulting ruling, was Attorney General Cameron’s latest effort in the fight to defend Senate Bill 150 and protect Kentucky kids.
Prior to filing his emergency motion against the ACLU’s injunction, Attorney General Cameron issued an Opinion refuting the Kentucky Department of Education’s flawed interpretation of the law, saying it circumvents the intent of the legislature.
View the order here.