Dylan Waguespack, the president of the board of Louisiana Trans Advocates, has led the organization’s response to the proposed bills in the state. He has worked with the organization for close to a decade leading advocacy efforts around legislative issues that impact Louisiana’s transgender community.
USA Today’s The American South spoke with Waguespack about the legislation targeting gender-affirming care that was introduced this month, its potential impact in Louisiana and the Gulf South, and the state of medical care for transgender youth living in the South.
The American South: Can you describe the legislation proposed in Louisiana and its potential impact on the transgender community?
Gov. John Bel Edwards won t support bills that ban transgender athletes, restrict medical treatment
The brief comments could signal the death knell of the bills, introduced by two Terrebonne Parish lawmakers.
Will Sentell I am concerned about emotionally fragile people, Edwards told reporters Monday.
The brief comments could signal the death knell of the bills, introduced by two Terrebonne Parish lawmakers, at the start of the second week of Louisiana s two-month session.
While Republicans control the state House and Senate, backers of the bills would have to muster the support of two-thirds of each chamber to have the rules take effect over any potential gubernatorial veto by the Democrat.
Louisiana lawmakers to debate gender-affirming care for trans youth shreveporttimes.com - get the latest breaking news, showbiz & celebrity photos, sport news & rumours, viral videos and top stories from shreveporttimes.com Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday newspapers.
In 2017, the city of New Orleans and the state benefited financially after the NBA moved the All-Star Game and its festivities to the Crescent City when North Carolina passed an anti-transgender bathroom bill in 2016, taking the big event from the city of Charlotte. That bill was later repealed.
Now, New Orleans could be on the opposite side of that as the NCAA put out a statement on Monday - ahead of the start of the 2021 Legislative Session - in support of transgender athletes. The NCAA Board of Governors statement said they will only host events in places that are safe, healthy and free of discrimination and indicated that they “will continue to closely monitor these situations to determine whether NCAA championships can be conducted in ways that are welcoming and respectful of all participants.”
Louisiana Legislators Obsessed With Prioritizing Anti-Trans Legislation With Four Bills Filed Already
Mary Griggs - Contributing Writer April 9th 2021
The Louisiana legislature convenes for fiscal sessions during odd number years. During such a session, legislators may only file five non-fiscal bills. Four of the state’s legislators are using their precious allotment of bills to target children by attempting to ban transgender youth from getting the health care they need or to exclude them from participating in sports.
Louisiana is not the only state experiencing a surge of anti-trans legislation. In 2021, there have been more than 85 bills filed across the country and four have been signed into law by the governors of Arkansas, Mississippi, South Dakota and Tennessee.