Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear tells Jen Psaki that trans kids are “children of God”

Newly re-elected Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear (D) recently explained why Republican ads decrying his belief in trans rights was a losing strategy.

Speaking to MSNBC correspondent Jen Psaki, Beshear first emphasized his passion for protecting trans kids.

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“I will never waiver in the effort to ensure that all trans individuals can live without the constant fear of violence and hate.”

“All children are children of God, that’s what my faith teaches me, and I was going to stand up especially for the most marginalized children who didn’t deserve either a state legislature or an entire campaign and all these super PACS picking on them.”

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In March, Beshear vetoed a sweeping anti-trans bill that included bans on gender-affirming surgeries, puberty blockers, and hormone therapy for minors, as well as a mandate that doctors stop treating young patients who are currently receiving gender-affirming care.

It also banned Kentucky teachers from using pronouns that “do not conform to a student’s biological sex as indicated on the student’s original, unedited birth certificate,” bans instruction on sexuality in grades K through six, and bans discussion of gender identity and sexual orientation at all grade levels.

Kentucky’s Republican-dominated legislature voted to override Beshear’s veto.

When it came time for the gubernatorial election, an outside organization spent millions of dollars on ads attacking transgender people to support GOP candidate and state Attorney General Daniel Cameron.

One of the ads funded by the American Principles Project PAC (APP-PAC) said that Beshear would send the FBI to take trans kids away from their parents if their parents didn’t accept their identities, which was not a part of Beshear’s platform.

Another ad showed a drag queen and accused Beshear of pushing “child sex changes with permanent consequences.” The ad was removed from YouTube under the platform’s hate speech policy.

In several other ads featuring former University of Kentucky swimmer and anti-trans activist Riley Gaines, APP-PAC attacked Beshear for vetoing a bill to ban trans kids from participating in school sports. The Republican legislature ultimately overturned his veto.

Speaking to Psaki, Beshear explained why he believes the Republicans conducted a losing campaign.

“The way these Super PACS and my opponent went about their campaign was just mean, and it was gross, and it was cruel,” he said. “And people don’t like that. That is not who we are, and this oughta be a message that you can’t scapegoat people just to get folks angry, and it’s wrong.

He went on to discuss how trans kids suffer more mental health issues and are more at risk for suicide.

“We oughta be in the suicide prevention business and not further harming kids who are going through too much. I did it because it was the right thing.”

He concluded, “This can’t be right and left; some things have to be basic right and wrong… There’s gotta be limits. This can’t be a rule-less type of game because it’s so much more than a game – ask any of these kids.”

Gov. Andy Beshear (D-KY) on his re-election and vetoing anti-trans bills:

"All children are children of God … I was going to stand up for the most marginalized children who didn't deserve either a state legislature or an entire campaign picking on them." pic.twitter.com/SBBNSGPjsL

— Heartland Signal (@HeartlandSignal) November 21, 2023