Louisiana House Advances K-12 “Don’t Say Gay” Bill

The Louisiana Illuminator reports:

The Louisiana House Committee on Education advanced House Bill 121 by Rep. Raymond Crews, R-Bossier City, which prohibits the use of transgender and nonbinary youth’s chosen names and pronouns in public K-12 schools without parental permission, along a party line 9-3 vote.

House Bill 122 by Rep. Dodie Horton, R-Haugton, which limits discussion of gender and sexuality in public K-12 schools, also advanced on a 9-3 vote, with Rep. Barbara Freiberg, R-Baton Rouge, joining Democrats in opposing the bill.

The Legislature approved both bills last year. Then-Gov. John Bel Edwards, a Democrat, vetoed them, and Republicans were unable to overturn his action. A representative for Gov. Jeff Landry, a Republican, filed a card in support of both Crews’ and Horton’s bills.

From my March 2022 report on Horton’s first attempt:

“I wasn’t aware of the need [for this legislation] until I looked at some things on Twitter and Facebook,” Horton told WBRZ Thursday. “It just solidified for us to protect our Louisiana children, as well. I started to pray about how we could protect our children here from inappropriate conversations until they are able to dissect it and old enough to understand it,” Horton explained. “I talked to my pastor and he challenged me and said, ‘we definitely need to do this.’”

Horton has claimed that being LGBTQ is a “choice.” Last year lawmakers approved Horton’s bill requiring “In God We Trust” placards in all public school classrooms.

As severe weather kept opponents from testifying, a Louisiana legislative committee approved two anti-LGBTQ+ pieces of legislation, including a “Don’t Say Gay” bill. @ByPiperHutch reports: https://t.co/SlIWP56XqR #lalege #LGBTQIA

— Louisiana Illuminator (@IlluminatorLA) April 10, 2024

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