Louisiana Democratic governor vetoes bill restricting transgender hormones, surgeries for minors

Louisiana Democrat Gov. John Bel Edwards vetoed a bill that would have banned hormone treatments, puberty blockers and sex-change surgeries from being administered to most minors in the state. 

The GOP-led "Stop Harming our Kids Act" passed the state House by a 75-25 vote and the state Senate by 29-10. The Louisiana legislature's Republican supermajority may vote to override Edwards' veto.

"This bill denies healthcare to a very small, unique, and vulnerable group of children," Edwards wrote in his veto letter dated Thursday. He also said the bill "takes away parental rights" and limits treatments for children that "could quite literally save their lives." 

The state legislature "overstepped its authority and is interfering in critical healthcare decisions" and "there is no legitimate state interest and no rational basis" for the law, Edwards also wrote.

The bill contains exceptions for treatment for minors with sexual development disorders or those with infections or injuries. Additionally, healthcare professionals who started providing hormone or drug therapy to a minor before Jan. 1, 2024, would be able to continue providing such treatments through Dec. 1, 2024, if they find that ceasing such care would cause harm to the child.

Republican state Rep. Gabe Firment, the bill's sponsor, commented on the governor's veto: "I am confident that my colleagues in the state legislature will listen to the demands of their constituents and come together to override this egregious veto."

He also noted that 20 other U.S. states have passed similar "common sense legislation."

Madeleine Hubbard is an international correspondent for Just the News. Follow her on Twitter or Instagram.