Image Credit: LemonTreeImages / Getty Images 
The Louisiana legislature voted in favor of overriding Democrat Gov. John Bel Edwards’ veto of a law that would ban medically transitioning minors.
Sponsored by Republican State Rep. Gabe Firment, the law would ban doctors from “prescribing hormone therapy and puberty blockers to minors, and from administering gender-transition surgical procedures,” according to NOLA. The state legislature passed the bill in June, only to be vetoed by Gov. John Bel Edwards.
On Tuesday, the override of the governor’s veto passed 75-23 before it was approved by the State Senate. Two House Republicans, Paula Davis of Baton Rouge and Joe Stagni of Kenner, were absent during the vote. Firment argued that the state needed to pass the bill, fearing that children in neighboring southern states would turn Louisiana into a destination for receiving transgender medical care.
“If we don’t pass this bill, Louisiana will become the destination for children across the entire South to undergo these life-altering and irreversible medical experiments,” saidFirment.
Democrats, however, charged that Republicans were inventing a phantom issue that did not need to be addressed.
“Proponents of this bill suggest that (the legislation is) necessary to stop physicians from attacking our children by performing these sex change surgeries. This is simply not happening in Louisiana,” said Democrat state Rep. Jason Hughes.
Gov. John Bel Edwards said he would fight the law in court.
“Today, I was overridden for the second time, on my veto of a bill that needlessly harms a very small population of vulnerable children, their families, and their health care professionals,” he said. “I expect the courts to throw out this unconstitutional bill, as well.”
