Over a dozen new laws will go into effect on January 1st. One of the more controversial bills going into effect is a bill that bans gender affirming care for trans minors in Louisiana. Governor John Bel Edwards called it an attack on transgender children and vetoed it, but the Legislature overrode the veto.
“For the most part people in Louisiana and certainly people that I represent were overwhelmingly in support of this legislation to protect children,” said state representative Gabe Firment. The Republican from Grant Parish authored the legislation.
Because other surrounding states passed similar legislation, Firment feared it would bring minors seeking gender-affirming medical care to the state.
“If we were not successful in getting this legislation passed, and overriding the governor’s veto, then Louisiana would become a destination for these sorts of horrific experimental procedures,” said Firment.
Because of resistance from LGBTQ rights groups, Firment expects the law to be challenged in court…
“I’m very confident that ultimately any legal challenges will be rebuffed and that the law we passed in Louisiana will stand,” said Firment.
Edwards said the law needlessly harms a very small population of vulnerable children and their families and he expects it will be ruled unconstitutional.
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