BATON ROUGE, La (BRPROUD) – Louisiana transgender and gender non-conforming rights activists rallied against Senate Bill 156.
The group, Real Name Campaign NOLA, made their voices heard from the balcony. Activists were escorted out of the chamber as La. House Speaker Clay Schexnayder was speaking at the podium.
The political organization was there “to demand lawmakers to defend the governor’s veto of Senate Bill 156.”
Transgender activists sent a clear message to lawmakers as they protested Senate Bill 156 at the Capitol.
Trans activist David Abraham said, “Trans kids is not the problem. SB 156 is the problem and if you don’t see us, if you don’t hear us, you best believe you will fear us.”
The group was carried away by Capitol security.
“They were shoving us, pushing us. We had to grip onto handrails to keep from tumbling,” said Abraham.
The bill bans transgender girls from competing on female sports teams in Louisiana schools.
“What this bill is about is protecting biological females, and we really can’t forget that,” State Representative Laurie Schlegel said. “There is a disadvantage when biological males are competing against biological females. They’re bigger, faster, stronger, and that’s what this bill intends to do.”
Those against the bill said it’s discriminatory.
Trans Activist Mar Ehrlich said, “Schools and sports teams are meant to be safe places for kids to be themselves, to try something new, to find friend and to build a support system.”
Abraham added, “There should be bills and solutions working towards making sure our schools, public schools especially, are more inclusive to all types of children.”
The Senate voted to override Governor Edwards’ veto which sent it to the House for debate. There must be a two-thirds vote in the House to override the governor’s veto.
