Louisiana lawmakers successfully override governor’s veto on child sex change ban.
In a Rare Move, Louisiana Legislature Overrides Governor’s Veto to Protect Children
In a rare move, the Louisiana legislature has voted to override Democrat Governor John Bel Edwards‘ veto of a bill that shields children from life-altering sex-change procedures.
The “Stop Harming Our Kids Act”
The bill, called the “Stop Harming Our Kids Act,” will prevent doctors from performing transgender procedures like double mastectomies on girls who identify as boys and administering puberty blockers and cross-sex hormones to children.
“As a counselor, I know of no other mental health disorder where we affirm distorted thinking. We don’t affirm the distorted thinking of anorexic children who suffer body dysmorphia, do we? And since studies have shown that gender dysphoria does not persist in most children past puberty, why would any so-called treatment include irreversible medical procedures,” said Louisiana Republican Rep. Laurie Schlegel. ”The suggestion that the only hope for children experiencing gender dysphoria is cross-sex hormone therapy, puberty blockers, or life-changing sex operations is ludicrous. These children need intensive mental health counseling.”
The House voted 75-23 to override the veto, with 69 Republicans being joined by six Democrats. In the Senate, lawmakers voted 28-11 to adopt the measure.
During discussion of the bill, Republican Senator John Morris said that “experimental procedures on minors that are irreversible” are not health care, citing long-term health problems, such as fertility issues, that have been associated with transgender procedures. Republican Senator Mike Fesi pointed to regret from people who “transitioned” at a young age and wished their parents had not allowed them to go through with the transgender procedures.
Democrat Senator Jay Luneau claimed that the bill would violate parental rights and contained vague provisions that would be unconstitutional.
Republican Senator Fred Mills, who
In May, Mills joined Democrats in a 5-4 vote on the Health and Welfare Committee to block the advancement of the bill. Edwards reportedly pressured lawmakers on the committee to kill the bill.
Before today’s vote, there have only been two successful vetoes of a gubernatorial veto since 1974, when the state adopted a new constitution,
“This bill was ground zero for the veto session and will show up in every single race this year in Louisiana. The legislature sent a historic message, loud and clear, that in Louisiana, children are off limits. Anyone thinking about running for office here should take note,” Baton Rouge-based Republican strategist Lionel Rainey III told The Daily Wire.
In his veto message, Edwards pointed to federal court rulings striking down similar bans in other states.
“I believe that there is no legitimate state interest and no rational basis that justifies harming this very small population of children, their families, and the healthcare who care for them or for the cruel and extreme consequences imposed on children through the overt denial of healthcare by this bill,” Edwards claimed in a letter to Louisiana House Speaker Clay Schexnadyer.
Roughly 20 states have passed bans on life-altering transgender procedures on children, including Kentucky, which is also governed by a Democrat. The Republican legislature was able to override his veto before portions of the law were just blocked by a federal judge.
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