The Republican Sponsors of HB 495
House Bill 495 intends to extend protections against ‘discrimination’ for mental health professionals including those engaging in conversion therapy, a practice that targets LGBTQ+ youth in an attempt to change their sexual or gender identity. The practice is currently “partially” prohibited for young people in Kentucky, is widely panned as pseudo-science, and has been shown to do more harm than good according to research.
On Wednesday, March 5, the bill passed the Kentucky House with a vote along party lines at 77-18. Kentucky has a Republican supermajority. The bill was sponsored by six Republicans (listed with their district): David Hale (74), Chris Fugate (84), Kim King (55), Savannah Maddox (61), Shawn McPherson (22), and Bill Wesley (91).
The Fairness Campaign sent a response to the news, saying, “Today the Kentucky House of Representatives advanced House Bill 495, a measure originally aimed at encouraging medical malpractice by explicitly allowing anti-LGBTQ “conversion therapy” by licensed mental healthcare professionals. In an unexpected move, the House replaced the far-reaching language in HB495 with text that instead invalidates Governor Andy Beshear’s executive order from the summer that banned ‘conversion therapy’ on Kentucky kids. It also prohibits future executive orders and related administrative regulations through January 1, 2028.”
Fairness Campaign executive director Chris Hartman testified at the state capitol against the bill. In the Campaign’s statement, he added, “While we are glad the original language, which would have encouraged incredible harm to LGBTQ kids, is gone, we still strongly oppose HB495. No child should be subjected to ‘conversion torture.’ It serves no purpose but to increase anxiety, depression, self-harm, and suicide among Kentucky’s LGBTQ kids. We hope the Kentucky Senate will reject HB495 and ensure the safety of LGBTQ youth all across our commonwealth.”
The bill is heading to the Kentucky Senate for a vote.
