Louisiana Legislature takes aim at access to bathrooms for transgender people

[Jessica_Rose]

Louisiana Legislature takes aim at access to bathrooms for transgender people

https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/us/louisiana-legislature-takes-aim-at-access-to-bathrooms-for-transgender-people/ar-BB1llpVn?ocid=windirect&cvid=d9690d3096c24316a1bf283583189a3b&ei=18

Story by Shannon Heckt (9 April 2024)

BATON ROUGE, La. (BRPROUD) – A number of bills taking aim at the LGBTQ community are being debated at the legislature this week.

HB608 puts into state law a definition of a person's sex as what is assigned to them at birth.

The bill defines sex as "an individual biological sex, either male or female, as observed or clinically verified at birth. Gender identity and other subjective terms shall not apply to this Part and shall not be used as synonyms or substitutes for sex."

It essentially dismisses a person's gender identity and they must use public spaces that align with their sex assigned at birth.

"Our intent is to send a clear message that Louisiana will preserve the privacy, dignity and safety of its women and girls," Wilder said.

Trans advocates talked about the danger transgender people would face by forcing them into bathrooms they feel they don't belong in. Transgender children already deal with high rates of mental illness and suicide rates.

"If we separate things by the way, sex is defined in this bill. That kid has to go change with the boys and is subject to some violence," said Britain Forsyth.

HB608 faced no opposition from legislators and sailed through to its next debate in the full House.."

[LoriDee]

"Our intent is to send a clear message that Louisiana will preserve the privacy, dignity and safety of its women and girls," Wilder said.

These kinds of statements are used to specifically imply that transgender women are predators and only use the bathroom with ill intent.