The Utah Republican who brought up the transgender treatment bill says he won’t be scared off by damage, which Equality Utah condemned.
This week, someone broke into the home of a Utah state lawmaker and left signs that suggest he was picked on because he is against transgender medical treatments for children.
On the door of Republican state Sen. Mike Kennedy, the words “fash,” which is short for “fascist,” and “These trannies bash back” were written in red spray paint. In a Facebook post, Kennedy showed a picture of the damage.
This year, Kennedy pushed for SB16, which bans transgender operations and puberty blockers for people under 18. In January, Gov. Spencer Cox signed the bill into law.
In a post on Facebook, Kennedy said he would not be scared off by “cowardly actions.”
“Let me be clear to those who want to stop me from sticking up for what’s right by using violence, destruction, and threats: you won’t be able to. “Your cowardly actions will not make me change my mind,” Kennedy wrote.
“The recent damage to my family’s home wasn’t just an attack on me; it was also an attack on what our state stands for. We won’t let fear and violence decide what happens to us,” he said. “As Utahns, we will always stand up to rebels who try to force their ideas on our state. I am more motivated than ever to work with the good people of Utah to make our state a better place for everyone, especially our children, and I won’t give up.
At least 11 states have passed laws that are similar to Utah’s SB16. This is part of a nationwide trend led by conservatives who say that medical treatments for transgender people are not proven and could be dangerous for children. LGBTQ advocacy groups and medical professionals have spoken out against these controversial bills. They say that so-called “gender-affirming care” is the best way to treat patients, and that the American Medical Association, the American Academy of Pediatrics, and the American Psychiatric Association all agree.
Equality Utah, the state’s largest LGBTQ rights group, which rejected Kennedy’s bill, condemned the damage to his home in a statement.
“We don’t know who did this, but we’ve been told that it may have been a way to get back at him for supporting SB 16.” If this or any other act of violence or damage against our public officials is connected to LGBTQ advocacy, we want to make it clear that Equality Utah strongly rejects these actions,” the group said.
“These horrible things don’t help LGBTQ people in Utah. They don’t help make the world more equal,” Equality Utah said.
When asked for a response, the Lone Peak Police Department didn’t answer right away.