Kentucky’s schools are struggling. Politicians need to boost, not bully, our kids. | Opinion

Across Kentucky, there’s an acute shortage of teachers and a lack of funding that leaves our children woefully underserved in the classroom. But rather than improving schools or providing them with more resources, a new bill, SB 150 — introduced and passed swiftly in committee the next day, now heading for a likely Senate vote on Monday — would mandate extreme, anti-LGBTQ+ measures that hurt all kids.

If passed into law, SB 150 will implement a series of attacks on teachers and families. Students learn best when they are able to focus on their lessons instead of worrying about being treated differently because of who they are or where they’re from. But with this bill, politicians are targeting vulnerable kids in a way that makes schools feel unsafe for all kids and deprives them of their right to a full education.

I’ve been an advocate for fairness in Kentucky for years, so when SB 150 was first rushed to a Senate hearing on Thursday, I headed to Frankfort alongside teachers, mental health experts and parents to speak out against these attacks on students.

I was especially moved by comments from Senator Karen Berg, the mother of a transgender son, Henry, who died by suicide this December. When the vote came in to move the bill forward, she told reporters: “my child killed himself because he didn’t want to face this again.”

Henry’s story is a reminder of the lives and futures at stake when politicians exploit transgender young people as pawns in a political stunt. No young person should have to face this kind of trauma, and no parent should grieve for their child as a result. When powerful lawmakers target transgender kids, who already face some of the highest rates of mental health issues, suicide, and harassment, it’s the worst kind of abuse, and it impacts every single one of our kids.

Instead of providing support and educational opportunities for our young people, this bill puts kids in the middle of a heated political showdown that can only harm them. That harm extends to our essential teachers, who already struggle to make ends meet. Adding new political interference into their daily lives will simply make it harder to hire and retain the new teachers our state desperately needs.

This bill isn’t what families in Kentucky want or need. But for Senator Wise, it’s an easy way to gin up controversy and court donors as he campaigns for lieutenant governor. The transgender kids in his crosshairs will now face being forcibly outed or encouraged to be called the wrong name in school, even if they have the support of their parents.

It’s time for the adults in the room to stand up to these bullies. We can ensure that all kids have the chance to attend inclusive and supportive schools where they can learn to respect one another. I urge all parents, teachers and taxpayers who believe in the importance of quality education and basic decency to join me in holding lawmakers accountable.

Supporting strong public education should be a priority for our legislature. We all want our kids to get a great education so they can grow up to be their best selves. Kentucky’s students deserve more teachers, new books, and thoughtful attention in school — what they don’t need in school is politicians’ interference.

Bills that force teachers to “out” LGBTQ+ kids are extremist political stunts that pit teachers, parents, and students against each other, and that hurts all of our kids. It’s a disgrace any politician would stoop so low to advance their own political agenda.

If you agree, you can join me at the Capitol on Wednesday, Feb. 15 for a rally for fairness in education, health care, and all parts of society. If you can’t make the trip, pick up the phone or write an email to your representatives to let them know: Kentucky parents won’t tolerate bullies.

Chris Hartman (he/him) is the Executive Director of Fairness Campaign, Kentucky’s leading statewide organization advocating for equal rights and fair opportunities for LGBTQ+ people.

This story was originally published February 10, 2023 at 10:45 AM.