SNL's first non-binary cast member launches into blistering tirade over healthcare bans for trans kids

Saturday Night Live's first-ever non-binary cast member Molly Kearney has issued an utter roasting of US lawmakers and bans on gender-affirming healthcare for transgender youths.

In the final moments of the show's 'Weekend Update' segment, anchor Michael Che began by discussing the recent legislation introduced in Republican-dominated states such as Florida, Kansas and Missouri.

"Since the start of this year, over 400 anti-LGBTQ bills have been introduced across the country, many of which directly target trans youth," he said, before handing over to Kearney to discuss the issue.

Introducing SNL’s first non-binary cast member, it's @MEATBRICKMOLLY! pic.twitter.com/tSs2snpHvk

— Saturday Night Live - SNL (@nbcsnl) April 16, 2023

Kearney then quite literally dropped in on the long-running Saturday Night Live (SNL) segment from the sky.

Lowered from the rafters in a harness, Kearney told their co-anchor that 'this harness is pretty tight' as they landed in a chair behind the news desk.

"I have been hung up on my genitals for far too long, and I’m starting to feel like a freaking Republican lawmaker," they added.

Kearney, who uses they/them pronouns, then quipped about how it felt up in the studio rafters before the segment began.

"At one point I heard a crew guy say, ‘Is she gonna die up there?’ And then another crew guy was like, 'You mean, are they gonna die up there?’ And then they both walked away and didn’t help which feels a lot how trans people are being treated right now," Kearney said.

Segment co-anchor Che chimed in with some cold, hard stats: "As of this week, there are now over 14 states that have passed bills restricting healthcare for trans kids."

"Listen to that Michael – restricting healthcare for kids," Kearney replied.

"For some reason, there’s something about the word ‘trans’ that makes people forget the word, ‘kids'."

They added: "If you don’t care about trans kids’ lives, that means you don’t care about freakin’ kids’ lives."

Kearney added: "People need to wake up. We are making trans kids grow up too fast. We should be keeping them safe and we need to be lifting them up."

At that moment, Kearney was hoisted back up into the air by their harness, where they proceeded to glide across the top of the frame for the rest of the segment.

“What’s happening kids is wrong and you don’t need to be scared,” Kearney said, directly addressing any transgender youths who may be watching.

"Our job is to protect you and your job is to focus on being a kid."

They continued: “It’s kind of like me flying in the SNL sky, there’s a bunch of dudes asking you about your crotch and controlling when and where you’re allowed to pee.

"But if you just hang on, you’ll look up and realise – you’re flying, kid."

Kearney's appearance ended with them screaming 'trans rights' just as confetti began to rain down around them in the colours of the trans Pride flag.