Kentucky's Republican governor, Matt
Bevin, said Friday that he would not press for a North Carolina-style
law that prohibits transgender people from using the bathroom of
their choice, saying it wasn't an issue in Kentucky.
Bevin laid out his agenda for the
upcoming legislative session during a news conference at Zeggz
Amazing Eggs, a Louisville restaurant with three locations.
When asked whether he would use his GOP
super majorities in both chambers to pass such a bill, Bevin answered
no and called the legislation “silly.”
“Why? Why would we? Why would
anybody need it? Is it an issue?” Bevin
rhetorically asked. “Is there anyone you know in Kentucky who
has trouble going to the bathroom? Seriously. Have you heard of one
person in Kentucky having trouble taking care of business in
Kentucky?”
“Making government rules for things
that don't even need government rules would be silly,” he added.
North Carolina Governor Pat McCrory
repeatedly defended signing House Bill 2 (HB 2) during his
unsuccessful re-election campaign. In addition to restricting
bathroom use for transgender people, HB 2 also blocks cities and
municipalities from enacting LGBT protections. McCrory's Democratic
opponent, Governor-elect Roy Cooper, repeatedly vowed to repeal the
law, making last month's election a referendum on the law.
(Related: In
first speech as governor-elect, Roy Cooper calls for repeal of
anti-LGBT law HB2.)
Earlier this year, Bevin joined a
lawsuit challenging the federal government's directive to public
school districts advising them to allow transgender students to use
the bathroom of their choice.