The Louisiana state legislature overrode Governor John Bel Edwards’ veto on Tuesday, enacting a bill banning sex change surgeries for minors into law.
Taking effect on January 1, 2024, House Bill 684 prohibits any procedure which aims to “alter the sex characteristics of a minor” and prohibits the prescription of hormone supplements solely for the purpose of providing “gender-affirming” care. Any medical professional who violates the law will have their license or certificates revoked for a minimum of two years.
The bill was first vetoed by Louisiana Governor Edwards on June 29, but the veto was overridden by a two-thirds vote of the elected members in the legislature just over two weeks later.
“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 healthcare professionals,” the Governor said in response to his veto’s overturn. “I expect the courts to throw out this unconstitutional bill.”
Chloe Cole, a teenage de-transitioner who now speaks out against so-called “gender-affirming” care, praised the legislature’s actions and called sex change procedures for minors “medical experimentation.”
“I started my battle against medically transitioning children over a year ago,” Cole posted to Twitter. “The first state I shared my story with was Louisiana. Last year, Louisiana tried to ban talk therapy for kids with GD. As of today, Louisiana has done a full 180 and has now placed age restrictions that prevent what happened to me from happening to any child in the South. To the Louisiana Legislature, thank you so much for listening to my cautionary tale.”
The American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU), however, was outraged by the legislature’s override and called the move “extreme government overreach and a direct threat to the civil liberties and constitutional rights of all Louisianans.” In a statement, the ACLU condemned the new law and vowed to “never stop fighting to protect the rights of transgender youth and their families.”
