By Representative Bill Wesley
As we finish up the 2022 Interim and prepare for the start of the 2023 Regular Session, I want to share some information about two pieces of legislation I am preparing to introduce next year. For years the conversation centering on gender-assigned restrooms in schools has dominated politics at local, state, and federal levels of government. While there are those who want you to believe this is not a real issue, it very much is and you do not have to look far for an example. Currently, the Loudon County School Board in Virginia is under investigation for how it handled two high-profile sexual assault cases in a Loudon County High School. The teenager who was charged with sexual assault described themselves as ‘gender-fluid’ and according to Loudon County school policy, a student is able to use the restroom that matches his or her “identified” sex rather than their biological sex. . They attacked a female student in the girls’ restroom was charged with sexual assault. That same student was then allowed to re-enroll in another high school, where they sexually assaulted another student.
In order to prevent a horrific event like this from happening in Kentucky’s schools, I have two bill drafts aimed at protecting our children. These build on the Save Women’s Sports Act we passed this past legislative session, which ensures that female sports competitions, including middle school, high school, and college, are reserved for biological females. When visiting Powell County High School, students shared their concerns with me about gender-fluid restrooms. They told me they do not want the opposite gender having the ability to use their restrooms and would be concerned for their safety if it was allowed at their school. I made a promise that I would fight for them in the state legislature and be a voice for both students and parents.
The first bill draft concerns student privacy in school restrooms, lockers rooms, and shower rooms. Schools would be required to have policies assigning students born male to use only those facilities designated to be used by males and students born female to use only those facilities designated to be used by females. Schools would also be required to provide the best available accommodation to students who assert their gender is different from their biological sex. Lastly, schools would have to identify consequences for using facilities designated for the opposite biological sex. It is so important that schools are a safe place for our children, and I am hopeful that with the introduction of this bill next session, we are taking that step to ensure the safety of Kentucky’s children.
The second bill draft would require the biological sex designation on a birth certificate to be either male or female and prohibit a non-binary or any symbol representing a non-binary designation including the letter “X.” This ensures that when a child in enrolled in school, there is no question about what their gender is.
We should be doing everything possible to protect our children, and this legislation is one way of doing just that. I am hopeful that this next session will bring about positive change across the commonwealth and look forward to seeing how this legislation works its way through the legislative process.
As always, our district will not be neglected. I can be reached through the toll-free message line in Frankfort at 1-800-372-7181. Feel free to contact me via email at Bill.Wesley@lrc.ky.gov. If you would like more information, please visit the legislature’s website at legislature.ky.gov.
