Louisiana House advances bill to remove references to gender from state law 

Louisiana could soon replace all references to “gender” in state law to “sex” under proposed legislation advancing in the state Legislature. 

House Bill 578 by Rep. Mike Johnson, R-Pineville, passed from the House of Representatives on a 73-21 vote. The bill also stipulates that “gender identity and other subjective terms shall not be used as synonyms or substitutes for sex.” 

“The bill is more about clarity: consistent, objective definitions,” Johnson said. “It ensures our statutes are applied fairly and uniformly. It helps courts and agencies and the public understand exactly what the law means.” 

“It’s not targeting any single group, and it’s not creating new penalties or restrictions on the people,” Johnson added. 

Johnson has titled the bill the “Restoring Biological Truth Act.”  

Opponents of the bill have raised concerns the bill is erasing transgender people from state law and that it could create a conflict with federal guidance on Title IX, a civil rights law that ensures equal opportunity to educational opportunities regardless of sex. 

Interpretation of the law has varied over the years, but it has trended toward acknowledging discrimination based on gender identity, gender expression or refusing to conform with gender norms as a type of sex-based discrimination.

Johnson said the bill would put Louisiana law in line with an executive order issued by President Donald Trump. Executive orders are not law and can be rescinded by subsequent presidents. 

The bill will next be discussed by a senate committee.