The Louisiana Senate voted on Monday in favor of House Bill 648, which seeks to prohibit gender-transition medical treatments for minors, according to a report from The Hill. This legislation aims to deter healthcare providers from administering such treatments to patients under 18 by threatening the revocation of professional licenses.
The bill advanced through the state Senate Judiciary “A” Committee, majorly Republican, on Friday. Interestingly, the three Democrats on the committee were absent during the vote. Baton Rouge’s State Senator Cleo Fields justified his absence, citing the bill’s irrelevance to the committee’s core focus, which primarily is on criminal justice issues.
Following the committee’s decision, the bill made its way to the full Senate on Monday, where it passed with a 29 to 10 vote, largely reflecting party lines. Republicans held firm that such legislation is crucial in safeguarding children from making potentially regrettable medical decisions.
Republican state Senator Jeremy Stine defended the bill on Monday, stating, “This isn’t complicated. Kids should not have access to permanent medical procedures in order to affirm an identity they might outgrow.” The bill is now anticipated to pass through the GOP-controlled House and subsequently land on Democrat Governor John Bel Edwards’ desk. Notably, Edwards has previously expressed opposition to laws considered discriminatory towards the LGBTQ community.