Louisiana House votes to override Gov. Edwards on gender treatment ban for minors

The matter now passes to the Senate, which must approve the override by a two-thirds margin.

By Ben Whedon

Published: July 18, 2023 4:12pm

The Louisiana House on Tuesday voted to override Democratic Gov. John Bel Edwards's veto of a ban on gender treatments for minors.

At issue is Republican state Rep. Gabe Firment's House Bill 648, which would bar doctors from conducting gender surgeries on minors as well as prescribing hormone treatments, NOLA reported.

In a special veto override session, the House voted 75-23 to overrule Edwards on the ban. The matter now passes to the Senate, which must approve the override by a two-thirds margin.

Republicans enjoy legislative supermajorities in both chamber, though Edwards's occupation of the governor's mansion has impeded the passage of numerous conservative would-be laws.

At least 20 states have passed bans on gender-related treatments for minors, according to Human Rights Campaign. Several more, including numerous Republican-leaning states likely to approve such measures, are mulling comparable legislation.

Ben Whedon is an editor and reporter for Just the News. Follow him on Twitter.