Louisiana Bill Advances: Seeks Uniform Definition Of “Sex” Based On Biological Sex As Noted At Birth

Featured Image: Speaker of the House of Representatives Mike Johnson with Donald J. Trump (Photo by Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images)

On April 22, Louisiana’s HB578 passed the House Civil Law Committee hurdle and is now moving to the Louisiana House of Representatives for a vote. The bill intends to replace references to “gender” with the word, “sex” which it defines as “an individual’s biological sex, either male or female, as observed or clinically certified at birth. Gender identity and other subjective terms shall not be used as synonyms or substitutes for sex.”

The measure, called the “Restoring Biological Truth Act,” has obvious implications for Transgender and gender nonconforming people. Civil rights impacts could range from how people are noted on I.D. documents and in public records, along with access to bathrooms, facilities and other “same-sex” spaces. It might influence where prisoners are housed. Earlier this week, for instance, a federal appeals court cleared the way for 18 trans women to be transferred to men’s facilities – where they would certainly be vulnarable to abuse.

The bill was introduced earlier this year by Rep. Mike Johnson, Speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives, who has consistently served Donald J. Trump’s agenda – not the least of which is on display in the “Defending Women from Gender Ideology Extremism and Restoring Biological Truth to the Federal Government” Executive Order. The EO, which fails to take into account scientific fact around chromosomal variation (gender aside), was one of 26 EO’s signed by Trump on the day of his inauguration.

Related: Appeals Court Clears The Way For Trans Women Inmates To Be Transferred To Men’s Facilities

As per the visual of the bill, edits have been made to existing Louisiana law – proposed changes to wording as noted by many strikethroughs: