Louisiana

‘Don’t Say Gay’ bill, preferred name, pronoun prohibition advance in Louisiana • Louisiana Illuminator

Published

2 weeks ago

April 16, 2024

‘Don’t Say Gay’ bill, preferred name, pronoun prohibition advance in Louisiana • Louisiana Illuminator

Two conservative proposals at the front lines of culture wars in Louisiana advanced Tuesday from the state House of Representatives, putting them on course to become law with the blessing of Gov. Jeff Landry.

One measure prohibits the discussion of sexual orientation and gender identity in the classroom. The other would restrict the use of student’s preferred names and pronouns.i

Both head next to a Senate committee for consideration.

Under House Bill 121, parental approval would be required before a teacher could use a student’s preferred name and pronouns, but that teacher could still object for religious reasons.

Its sponsor, Rep. Raymond Crews, R-Bossier City, was questioned about why his proposal defers to teacher preference over parental rights, the latter being a benchmark of several pieces of conservative-backed bills on education.

“If there’s a choice, then truth should come first,” said Crews, who described his legislation as a means to combat “social engineering.”

The House voted 68-30 to send the bill to the Senate after members added an amendment that would prohibit schools from disciplining a student that deadnames or misgenders a peer.

Deadnaming is when someone uses a transgender or nonbinary individual’s birth name, or “dead name,” against their wishes. Misgendering occurs when someone refers to an individual as a gender that they do not identify. Several representatives raised concerns that this amendment could lead to more bullying of transgender youth — a fear Crews dismissed.

Studies approximate 80% of transgender youth have considered suicide, and 40% report at least one suicide attempt.

Legislators also added — then removed — a Rep. Jason Hughes’ amendment that would have applied the proposal’s language to any private school that receives state money.

Hughes, D-New Orleans, successfully attached a similar amendment to a bill the House approved last week that would require the Ten Commandments to be displayed in all classrooms – including K-12 schools, colleges and universities – the state finances.

The topic of one of the commandments – adultery – came up during discussion of House Bill 122, which critics refer to as a“Don’t Say Gay” bill, it raised questions of whether a teacher would run afoul of the legislation if a student asked them to explain the term.

The bill, by Rep. Dodie Horton, R-Haughton, is similar to a Florida law, though her proposal is much broader and would apply to K-12 grades, whereas Florida’s law applies only to early grade students.

Florida recently settled a lawsuit over the law filed by civil rights activists. As part of the agreement, students and teachers are permitted to discuss gender and sexuality as long as it is not part of classroom instruction.

Horton’s bill would not just apply to classroom instruction. It also prohibits “covering the topics of sexual orientation or gender identity” during any extracurricular and athletics events, meaning it could potentially hinder student chapters of the Gay-Straight Alliance and other LGBTQ+ student organizations.

Horton, who also sponsored the Ten Commandments bill, said her proposal seeks to eliminate “inappropriate influence and persuasion” in the classroom.

Horton acknowledged no school board had asked her to sponsor the bill, one that she’s brought before the Legislature for the past three years. Last year’s version gained approval from lawmakers but was vetoed by then-Gov. John Bel Edwards.

Horton said the bill would allow teachers to focus on the curriculum at hand, which she believes the large majority of teachers are already doing.

“Unfortunately, there’s a small percentage that has ulterior motives that we cannot allow,” she said.

The House approved the proposal in a 69-28 vote, with lawmakers rejecting an amendment from Rep. Barbara Freiberg, R-Baton Rouge, that would have placed such policy matters in the hands of local school boards.

Piper Hutchinson contributed to this report.

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Louisiana

Tioga High School’s Bailey Gallineau signs to become Louisiana Tech Cheerleader

Published

5 hours ago

April 29, 2024

Press Room

Tioga High School’s Bailey Gallineau signs to become Louisiana Tech Cheerleader

BALL, La. (KALB) – Tioga High School’s Bailey Gallineau signed her letter of intent to become a Louisiana Tech Cheerleader on April 29.

Brittney Kings, Head Coach for the THS Cheer Team, shared that Bailey has an extensive list of achievements, including:

4-year varsity cheerleader serving as Co-Captain junior year and Captain senior year
6 time NCA All-American Cheerleader
NCA Top Gun-Best Jumps
NCA Top Gun- Best Tumbling
NCA Staff Nominee
Senior Cheer Awards- Best Indian Reservation performer, Senior MVP, Captain Award,
All-American, Most Dependable
4-year Student Council Member- Class Vice President, Class President, Student Body
Secretary
3 Year A Honor Roll- Sophomore-Senior Year
Chiefs Freshman Mentor
Student Senate Member
Fellowship of Christian Athletes- Member, Leadership Team, and Speaker
Student of the Month Sophomore and Senior year
Student of the Year Nominee
Ruby Badge Recipient
Sapphire Badge Recipient
Homecoming Princess
District Track 800-meter Qualifier
Cross Country 3 mile Top 10 Qualifier for Regionals

Congratulations!

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Louisiana

The List: When Is the Last Day of School in Louisiana?

Published

12 hours ago

April 29, 2024

Press Room

The List: When Is the Last Day of School in Louisiana?

LEAP testing is (for the most part) behind them, and Louisiana students are itching to be finished with school for the year. God bless teachers! Which class in college taught them to heard cats? They are all feeling the end-of-the-year fatigue and just as anxious for the last day of school as the students.

Parents are searching for ways to keep the kids occupied this summer, and those plans should be finalized sooner rather than later. Parks and recreation departments sometimes offer opportunities to let children blow off some steam and keep them off devices, at least for a little while. Lafayette and Calcasieu Parishes have a number of camps that children can attend, and registration is open for most of them. The outlying, more rural parishes don’t have the same selection, so reach out to your friends and community organizations for information about summer activities.

READ MORE: Summer Camps in Lafayette area

Whatever the plans are for students after they finish school for the year, the clock is ticking until they hear that final bell. From Lafayette to Lake Charles, from Opelousas to Abbeville and all towns in between, here’s the list of parishes in south Louisiana and when the 2023-24 school year ends for the public schools.

Edit
ST. LANDRY	MAY 21
LAFAYETTE	MAY 22
ST. MARY	MAY 22
CAMERON	MAY 22
CALCASIEU	MAY 22
BEAUREGARD	MAY 22
ALLEN	MAY 22
ACADIA	MAY 23
ST. MARTIN	MAY 23
JEFF DAVIS	MAY 23
IBERIA	MAY 24
EVANGELINE	MAY 30
VERMILION	MAY 24

10 Tips To Safely Drive Through School Zones In Lafayette

Gallery Credit: Rob Kirkpatrick

The Capital Region’s 10 Best High Schools For 2024

US News & World Report has once again done a deep dive into test scores, graduation rates, and more on almost 25,000 high schools across every state to determine the best of the best nationwide. According to that data, here are the 10 best high schools in the Capital Region, along with where they rank in New York state and nationwide for 2024.

Gallery Credit: Matty Jeff

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Louisiana

US State Legislation Cannabis News for Louisiana, Hawaii, Georgia

Published

19 hours ago

April 29, 2024

Press Room

US State Legislation Cannabis News for Louisiana, Hawaii, Georgia

The TDR Three Key Takeaways regarding Cannabis News and New Legislation:

Georgia aligns with federal standards for hemp products.
Louisiana introduces adult-use cannabis legislation.
Kansas experiences a setback with the rejection of a medical cannabis bill.

Cannabis news has been particularly vibrant this week as states like Louisiana, Hawaii, Georgia, and Kansas have made notable legislative advancements. Anthony Varrell, the Co-host of TDR noted that many of these developments are similar to Florida’s significant progress in developing one of the largest medical cannabis markets during Governor Ron DeSantis’s tenure, which notably included the introduction of smokable flowers. Varrell noted that this marks a significant shift in the traditional narrative of cannabis in red, conservative states.

In Louisiana, recent legislation aims to establish a regulated marijuana market for adults, reflecting a significant change in the state’s approach to cannabis. The bill allows adults to purchase and possess marijuana and permits the cultivation of up to six plants for personal use. Importantly, the legislation provides an opt-out for local governments, enabling them to decide whether or not to host cannabis businesses, which could facilitate the law’s implementation by respecting local preferences.

Meanwhile, Hawaii is advancing in medical marijuana accessibility. The governor has proposed allowing medical marijuana to be prescribed for any condition, expanding beyond the current restrictive program. This progressive step could position Hawaii as a leader in accessible cannabis-based medical treatment, reflecting a broader recognition of the plant’s therapeutic benefits.

Georgia’s focus is slightly different, centering on regulating hemp products, including CBD and delta-8 THC. A bill that aligns state regulations with federal guidelines is awaiting the governor’s signature. This regulation is essential for consumer safety, aiming to standardized testing, packaging, and labeling practices across the state.

However, not all states are moving forward unimpeded. Kansas faced a setback with the rejection of a medical marijuana bill in the state Senate, highlighting the varying degrees of opposition that cannabis legalization efforts still encounter in certain areas.The progressing cannabis legislation in these states reflects changing public opinions and impacts civil liberties, healthcare, and social justice. The recent updates from states like Louisiana, Hawaii, Georgia, and Kansas show significant progress and growing acceptance of marijuana’s uses, which could influence broader national policies.Want to keep up to date with all of TDR’s research and news, subscribe to our daily Baked In newsletter.

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