Governor Edwards Defends LGBTQ+ Rights, Vetoes Discriminatory Bills

Louisiana Governor John Bel Edwards has vetoed a ban on gender-transition care for transgender minors, as well as two other bills related to gender expression and sexual orientation in schools. The ban would have prohibited hormone treatments, puberty blockers, and gender-transition surgery for individuals under 18. Proponents argue that such measures protect children from risky and unproven treatments, while opponents view them as discriminatory. The bills had passed the Republican-dominated Legislature, but the governor's veto can be overridden in a special session.