KYLP Urgently Needs to Fund Our Efforts to Litigate Against SB 150
The mission of the Kentucky Youth Law Project, Inc., is to enhance and protect the legal rights and entitlements of LGBTQIA+ youth through direct, no-fee legal representation, education, and public policy advocacy. Because 40% of all homeless youth self-identify as LGBTQIA+, our goal is to reduce homelessness and promote equal treatment for LGBTQIA+ youth in social welfare agencies, government services, the courts, and public schools through Kentucky.
One of the most urgent needs we have is to raise funding to cover the costs of litigation against school districts that discriminate against LGBTQIA+ students. The 2023 Kentucky legislature passed Senate Bill 150, a Frankenstein's monster of a bill that would violate Kentucky students' fundamental right to an education by requiring schools to out students to their families, despite the student's concern that family members might kick them out of their home or worse, abuse and neglect them. SB 150 would also prevent school mental health providers from speaking to students about their sexual orientation or gender identity.
A school counselor, for example, who was trying to talk a student down from a crisis related to being bullied for their sexual orientation or gender identity, would be required to immediately halt any counseling services until the student's sexual orientation or gender identity was relayed to a parent and the parent gives the counselor consent to continue the de-escalation of their student in crisis.
Additionally, it is possible that school-based Gay/Straight Alliances (GSAs) could be halted, or alternatively, that they could be required to seek parental consent from a parent before students could attend the GSA meetings. Without a known history of parental abuse and neglect of a student, school personnel could expose the student to abusive family members who will not tolerate their child's gender or sexual diversity.
This could lead to the student becoming housing unstable, as well as poor mental health outcomes, such as depression, anxiety, and self-harming behaviors, including suicidal ideation and suicide.
We have to stop SB 150 from harming our young LGBTQIA+ people!
KYLP estimates that it will take a minimum of $15,000 to cover the costs of litigating SB 150's education provisions. The ACLU is taking the lead in the ban on gender affirming health care, while KYLP is taking the lead in the "Don't Say Gay" portions of SB 150. A donation of any amount to KYLP's Litigation Fund will be greatly appreciated.
KYLP attorneys never charge a fee for their assistance, but there are still court costs and expenses related to investigating and providing a top-notch legal representation. There are also substantial costs in preparing and presenting trainings to these professionals and paraprofessionals.
Your gift to KYLP will help us continue this vital work. If you support our mission and the work we are doing to protect LGBTQIA+ children and youth, please make a generous tax-deductible gift to the Kentucky Youth Law Project today.