Governor John Bel Edwards says he does not support any of the bills filed in the current legislative session that would prevent transgender athletes from competing in sports in public schools.
“We don’t have a problem in Louisiana today in the sense that we have individuals out there who are trans females trying to participate in sports,” said Edwards.
There are also bills that would make it more difficult or even ban health care for transgender children and teenagers.
Edwards said he’s concerned about the emotional impact these measures could have on the transgender community.
“And the idea that the weight of the state would be put behind something that to me that is unnecessary, discriminatory and very hurtful for those individuals,” said Edwards.
These anti-transgender proposals have yet to receive a committee hearing.
Louisiana is scheduled to host the NCAA’s Final Four basketball tournament next year. The NCAA has stated it will not hold tournaments in states with antitransgender laws. Edwards believes the state will receive national backlash if transgender girls are not allowed to compete.
“We know that there will be an adverse impact to the state with respect to the NCAA and other things,” said Edwards.
In 2016 the NCAA disqualified North Carolina from hosting neutral-site championship events for the 2016-17 academic year after the passage of a bill banning transgender use of public restrooms. The law has since been reversed.
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