There are several bills making their way through the legislature that impact transgender individuals in Louisiana. Two bills would prohibit transgender girls from competing in women’s sports. Governor John Bel Edwards said he does not support any of the bills.
“We don’t have a problem in Louisiana today in the sense that we have individuals out there who are trans females trying to participate in sports,” said Edwards.
The other bills would make it more difficult or even ban health care for transgender children and teenagers.
Edwards said he’s concerned about the emotional impact these bills could have on the transgender community.
“And the idea that the weight of the state would be put behind something that to me that is unnecessary, discriminatory and very hurtful for those individuals,” said Edwards.
Louisiana is scheduled to host the NCAA’s Final Four basketball tournament next year. The NCAA has stated it will not hold tournaments in states with antitransgender laws. Edwards believes the state will receive national backlash if transgender girls are not allowed to compete.
“We know that there will be an adverse impact to the state with respect to the NCAA and other things,” said Edwards.
In 2016 the NCAA disqualified North Carolina from hosting neutral-site championship events for the 2016-17 academic year after the passage of a bill banning transgender use of public restrooms. The law has since been reversed.
