Thread by @oliviakrauth

Hello from Frankfort!

I might have gotten the last seat in the Senate Education Committee room.

SB 150 is the main item on the agenda. #kyga23

This is an unusual view for me. Looking forward to making an appearance in the background of the KET feed! #kyga23

Here's a 🧵of what SB 150 does. #KYGA23

https://twitter.com/oliviakrauth/status/1623676380931100674

There are three other bills on the agenda for the day, including SB 49 which would extend how long some alternative teaching certifications last. #KYGA23

apps.legislature.ky.gov/record/23rs/sb…

We're getting started. The room is standing room only, which appears to be allowed under new chair Sen. Stephen West's reign. #KYGA23

And SB 150 is up first. #KYGA23

Sen. Max Wise, the sponsor and former committee chair, running through the bill.

He brings up last year's "Teaching American Principles" bill, which was his "Mr. Nice Guy" approach to "critical race theory" legislation. #KYGA23

Just like then, this bill is not the more extreme legislation filed by other lawmakers, he explains.

Folks have gotten the different forms of legislation confused both years.

Wise: The bill does not stop students from requesting new pronouns or names, or teachers from honoring those requests. #KYGA23

Sen. Reggie Thomas, D-Lexington, says he has "several questions."

He starts with questioning why the bill doesn't require districts to not out kids to parents if it would lead to abuse or getting kicked out.

Thomas asks if a student comes out to a teacher and fears it would cause abuse/kicked out but the parent doesn't have a clear history of abuse, what would happen?

Wise says he hopes a district would have a plan for that.

Thomas tried a few phrasings of this, and Wise just kinda kept saying it is district control.

Thomas: How is allowing teachers to use a student's wrong pronouns helpful for students?

Wise: This means it won't be getting pushed down from KDE/KBE and left up to local districts.

Districts can't require teachers to use the correct pronouns, though.

And KDE's guidance on this is just that - optional guidance for districts. Not a mandate.

There is construction going on directly upstairs from this committee room. Fun.

Two of the lawmakers who are sponsoring the much harsher SB 102 -- the mirror of HB 173 -- are on this committee.

Both Sens. Shelley Funke Frommeyer and Lindsey Tichenor have spoken positively of SB 150. #KYGA23

Tichenor asked if a "program" in the human sexuality section of the bill could include a drag show.

Senate President Robert Stivers asks Wise if he supports parents rights in their student's education.

Wise: 100%.

Stivers: Do you think KDE guidance usurps those rights?

Wise: Yes. #KYGA23

They're allowing 10 minutes of testimony. It sounds like it will all be against.

First up is Chris Hartman from the Fairness Campaign.

Nearly 1 in 5 transgender youth have attempted suicide in the past year, he reminds lawmakers. #KYGA23

Suicidal risk for trans kids drops with each place that affirms their identity, he says.

Dr. Laurie Grimes, a pediatric psychologist and rep of the Kentucky Psychological Association, says KPA opposes this.

She backs up Hartman's data.

Myles Joiner, a trans man, is a social worker in Louisville who works with several LGBTQ people.

They've watched their clients come out of depression with affirmation.

"I'm begging for their lives."

I'm not asking you to try to understand, Joiner says, I'm asking you to care.

"It's not hurting you. It's not hurting you to call me Myles. Why would we hurt our children?"

Mason, a transgender person from Lexington with a last name I won't try to spell, says growing up, they weren't out to their parents.

But they were out at school, and were scared someone would out them, preventing them from seeking counseling services.

They watched their LGBTQ friends get help, and their depression improved.

They couldn't seek those services. So their mental health did not improve.

Apologies - Myles Joiner is actually spelled Miles Joyner.

"This is child sacrifice to get votes," Dr. Bobbie Glass, a trans person and former educator, said. "God will show no mercy."

Berea Ind. school board member Rebecca Blankenship -- the first trans elected official in Kentucky -- argues the bill would show a teacher's personal beliefs to their students.

courier-journal.com/story/news/pol…

Vote is starting.

Sen. Danny Carroll votes yes and says it doesn't come from a place of hatred.

Someone in the crowd whispers "bullshit."

Carroll says he does, in fact, have trans friends.

🚨 SB 150 passes.

Off to the full Senate. I don't believe it has any readings, so it couldn't get a vote until Tuesday at the earliest.

Sen. Karen Berg, who lost her trans son to suicide, eventual stood up during the vote and watched at least Tichenor cast her vote.

Berg says “this whole shitshow” is all to gain political points.

I needed to know that they knew that I was there, she says of being present for the vote.

“My child killed himself because he didn’t want to face this” all over, Berg says, gesturing to the committee room.