BREAKING: Louisiana congress passes bill to ban sex changes for minors, with a veto-proof majority

The Louisiana Senate passed HB 648 in a 29-10 vote on Monday. The bill bans puberty blockers, cross-sex hormones, and surgery for minors.

The bill is expected to be vetoed by Louisiana Governor John Bel Edwards. However, HB 648 passed with veto-proof majorities in both Legislative chambers. The Senate requires 26 votes in favor to override a veto, and the House requires 70 votes to override a veto; HB 648 received 71 in the House chamber. 

Bill author, Louisianna Congressman Gabe Firment said in a statement to the Post Millennial, "Thanks to the bi-partisan support of the Louisiana State Senate, we are one step closer to protecting Children in Louisiana from experimental chemical and surgical sex change procedures."  He continued, "HB648 has passed both chambers of the state legislature with veto-proof majorities, and the people of Louisiana have made it clear that our children are worth fighting for." 

"The Passage of this important legislation would not have been possible without the help of courageous detransitioners, brave Louisiana physicians and advocates, and parents and grandparents across our great state," Firment concluded. 

In support of HB 648 Senator Jay Morris said on the floor, "A lot has been said about hate, but what about these children?" he continued, "Who would be sterilized, making decisions for themselves underage... we won't let them vote, sign a contract, but we are going to let them do something irreversible? At least a contract can be undone."

HB 648 was previously subject to controversy after being voted down in the Health and Welfare Committee after committee chair Senator Fred Mills (R) voted with Democrats to kill the bill. According to the Washington Stand, Senate voted 26-12 to discharge the bill and reassign it to the Judiciary Committee before being sent to the floor. 

The Republican Party of Louisiana supported the action in a tweet, "HB 648 MUST BE HEARD!" They continued, "The Republican Party of Louisiana strongly supports procedural action that will result in a Senate floor vote on House Bill 648 by Rep. Gabe Firment. This legislation would prohibit genital mutilation surgery on minor children in Louisiana." 

"I guess I’ve always in my heart of hearts have believed that a decision should be made by a patient and a physician. I believe in the physicians in Louisiana," Mills said of his vote. "I believe people that [are] licensed by the Board of Medical Examiners are well-regulated. I believe in the scope of practice. I believe in a standard of care."

The bill states, "A healthcare professional shall not knowingly engage in any act that attempts to alter a minor's appearance or to validate a minor's perception of his sex if the minor's perception is inconsistent with his sex." It makes exceptions for the use of puberty blockers in children with precocious puberty and those with disorders of sexual development (DSD) conditions. 

The bill's enactment would make Louisiana the 21st state to ban so-called "gender-affirming care" for minors. 

This is a breaking story and will be updated.