BATON ROUGE, LA — Louisiana lawmakers are advancing legislation that would replace references to “gender” with “sex” across state law, a move supporters say ensures clarity but critics argue could affect civil rights protections.
House Bill 578, introduced by Republican Rep. Mike Johnson, passed the state House in a 73-21 vote. The proposal would standardize legal language by defining sex in biological terms and explicitly stating that gender identity and similar terms should not be used interchangeably.
Johnson said the measure is designed to create “consistent, objective definitions” and emphasized that it does not impose new penalties or target specific groups. He has labeled the proposal the “Restoring Biological Truth Act.”
Opponents, including civil rights advocates, warn the bill could effectively remove recognition of transgender individuals from state statutes. They also argue it may conflict with evolving federal interpretations of Title IX, which in recent years have increasingly included gender identity under protections against sex-based discrimination.
The legislation aligns with broader policy efforts tied to recent executive actions under President Trump, though such orders can be reversed by future administrations.
The bill now heads to a state Senate committee, where further debate is expected as lawmakers weigh legal clarity against concerns over potential impacts on discrimination protections.
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