Putting the economy first means putting aside anti-LGBTQ political stunts

After a year of challenges, from sky-high gas prices to devastating floods in Eastern Kentucky and the continued aftermath of violent tornadoes in Western Kentucky, families in our commonwealth deserve a fresh start in 2023. It’s time for our lawmakers to deliver a bold legislative agenda that offers the economic solutions and support we need to thrive, such as continuing to modernize Kentucky’s tax code, supporting our signature industries, and investing in infrastructure such as broadband and roads.

But some Kentucky leaders have indicated they would rather spend their time on bills to take rights away from our LGBTQ community, particularly some of Kentucky’s most vulnerable kids.

These bills don’t deal with the real economic issues that you or I have to grapple with. They’re political stunts to get attention from a handful of extremists, and if we let these efforts stand, we open the door for politicians to find even more ways to meddle in people’s private lives.

For Subscribers:Here are LGBTQ-related bills Kentucky lawmakers have introduced, and what's on the horizon

Wasted time

When we waste time on bills drafted by extremists – bills that are often carbon copies of legislation penned by out-of-state special interests – we all lose, and we delay our ability to support the Kentucky families struggling to make ends meet or small business owners preparing for a possible recession.

Politically-motivated attacks on LGBTQ Kentuckians are not only a distraction from the work needed to grow our economy, they are also a direct blow to our state’s revenue streams. Research shows that businesses in states that debate or advance bills attacking LGBTQ people have more trouble recruiting and retaining workers and attracting tourism. In a recent Herald Leader article VisitLex President Mary Quinn Ramer noted at least half a dozen groups have avoided Kentucky because of anti-LGBTQ legislation.

The Kentucky Chamber of Commerce expressed similar concerns and affirmed its stance against anti-LGBTQ attacks in the Kentucky General Assembly, “The Chamber discourages any discriminatory legislation that would hinder any individual’s or organization’s desire to do business in or with the commonwealth. The Chamber’s mission is to foster a positive environment that enables business growth in Kentucky, and we believe such legislation to be bad for business.”

Major Kentucky employers understand these stakes and have joined the coalition Kentucky Competes to vocally oppose anti-LGBTQ legislation – particularly the extremist bills that target transgender kids and call for laws that ensure all people, regardless of sexual orientation or gender identity, have a fair and equal chance to work and participate in our community. Because transgender people are our neighbors and our coworkers, and our communities are better together.

We can make that promise a reality with the Statewide Fairness Law, which would update the Kentucky Civil Rights Act to ensure fair opportunities for all. Laws that help guarantee LGBTQ employees are evaluated or hired based on their performance, not their personal life, have been shown to bolster economic growth and encourage innovation. To help business owners and employers attract the best possible talent, we must guarantee that workers and job applicants are treated fairly, and with respect.

More:Kentucky Sen. Karen Berg asks for 'tolerance and grace' after transgender son's death

We need leaders who value economic development, fairness and resilience, and who will take tangible steps to invest in Kentucky’s future.

For too long, other Kentucky conservatives have not seen LGBTQ rights as central to our mission or to our values. But I have. The truth is, the ability of every person to get a fair shot at success is central to everything we already believe as Republicans. It’s rooted in our commitment to freedom, faith and family, and in our commitment to each other and to our shared success.

This legislative session, let’s encourage our lawmakers to stay true to these values. We will all be better for it.

Trey Grayson represents Kentucky Competes, a coalition of Kentucky employers committed to LGBTQ equality. He is the former two-term Secretary of State in Kentucky. During his time in office, he served as chair of the Republican Association of Secretaries of States and as president of the National Association of Secretaries of State, the first Kentuckian to hold either position. From 2011-2014, Secretary Grayson served as the director of the Institute of Politics (IOP) at Harvard University’s John F. Kennedy School of Government.

This article originally appeared on Louisville Courier Journal: Anti-LGBTQ bills are political stunts. Kentucky must focus on economy