Greg Hilburn Summarizes Status of LA Bills Leftists Characterize as "Anti-LGBTQ+" Legislation
To be "Pro-Natural Law" is to be "Anti-Trans" evidently
The Left can’t help themselves… they get things backwards, tails wag dogs.
Greg Hilburn is a respected and responsible journalist, generally. But with the Overton Window shifting as hard to the left as it has recently, being the middle-of-the-road Democrat that Hilburn seems to be has him further left than what used to be “middle.”
Thus are any laws that would, for example, ban puberty blockers for minors termed “Anti-LGBTQ+” laws, or “Don’t Say Gay” laws. The bias embedded in this article from Hilburn is simply unmissable….
What we consider an affirmation of natural law and a defense of the family, Hilburn sees as an attack on gay people, an attack on “trans kids.”
Regardless, he did a fine job of summarizing the status of several pro-family bills in the legislature.
You can click over and read the article at the Shreveport Times, but we’re posting it below for your convenience:
Louisiana lawmakers will send a host of anti-LGBTQ bills to the governor's desk, joining other conservative southern Republican states in bans on gender identity discussions and in schools, library restrictions and outlawing gender affirming healthcare for minors.
All of the bills, including one that would require school employees to use the names and pronouns of students on their birth certificates unless they have parental consent, received veto-proof wins in at least one of the chambers.
Democratic Gov. John Bel Edwards has said he believes the bills are generally unnecessary and understands the LGBTQ community's concerns, but he hasn't said whether he will specifically veto any of the bills.
The bills must return to their respective originating chamber - House or Senate - for final passage because they were amended, but no roadblocks are expected.
As has been the case in other states, the national debate over gender identity is among the marquee culture war issues being debated in the Louisiana Legislature.
"God answered many prayers being lifted up by parents today," said Republican Haughton Rep. Dodie Horton after her House Bill 466, known by opponents as "Don't Say Gay," cleared the Senate on a 29-9 vote.
Following are the bills that on the brink of final passage:
— Senate Bill 7 by Republican Turkey Creek Sen. Heather Cloud to restrict minors' access to public library materials deemed "sexually explicit." Her measure cleared the House Monday on a 73-28 vote.
— Horton's House Bill 466 bill restricts the discussion of gender and sexuality in public school classrooms.
— House Bill 81 by Republican Bossier City Rep. Raymond Crews requires school employees to use the names and pronouns of students on their birth certificates unless they have parental consent and even then teachers can opt out if they object for religious reason. It cleared the Senate Monday on a 31-8 vote.
— House Bill 648 by Republican Rep. Gabe Firment to ban gender affirming healthcare for minors passed the Senate Monday on a 29-10 vote.
Members of the LGBTQ community have said they feel under attack.
"It's dangerous to be trans in America," said Gabby D., 18, of Metairie, in an interview with USA Today Network. "There is a wave of hate going on."
But supporters of the legislation say the bills are designed to protect children and preserve parental rights.
Cloud said her bill provides common-sense guardrails that many other media platforms provide to parents.
She said the legislation would "empower parents" and enforce their "fundamental right for the upbringing of their children."
"We must encourage Gov. Edwards to sign this layer of protection into law," Horton said of her legislation. "We are praying that he will."
Again, all credit to Greg Hilburn who covers state politics for USA TODAY. Follow him on Twitter: @GregHilburn1
Follow The Big Easy Conservative on Twitter: @BigEasyConserv
Mr Hilburn and Shreveport Times are not alone in their characterizations and tone on these matters:
From another article by The Advocate, Sam Karlin writes:
The legislation is part of a wave of laws targeting LGBTQ+ people nationally, pushed by Republicans and national groups and boosted by conservative media.
The oppression of gay and trans people is just stifling, isn’t it?
The Editorial Staff made no bones about it:
Say what you will about our Legislature — and we’ve had a lot to say over many years — the fact is that today its members are on average better educated than our general population.
So why are lawmakers acting as they do when anti-gay prejudices fuel so many bills this year?
And it’s not just a few elected officials. A Louisiana version of Florida’s infamous “Don’t Say Gay” bill passed the House on Tuesday. Before that, the state's even tinier transgender minority was targeted with bills that passed by whopping majorities, too.
We are unaware of any right granted to straight citizens that is denied to any gay citizen. But what does that matter to members of the press?