A new law will prohibit companies from disciplining employees who refuse to use a transgender or nonbinary coworker’s name or pronouns in Louisiana. The measure was seen by critics as an attack on trans people promoted by Louisiana Governor Jeff Landry, and it sparked strong reactions online, with many criticizing the Republican politician.
As reported by Advocate, Landry recently signed Act 579, which prohibits employers from disciplining workers who refuse to address others by any names other than “those they were given at birth.”
Supporters argue that the law protects First Amendment free speech rights. However, critics see it as legislation designed to harm trans people. Democratic state Rep. Joy Walters reportedly criticized the law, saying it could negatively affect the employment and mental health of LGBTQ+ workers.
Louisiana Residents Don’t Approve New Law Signed By Jeff Landry
On Reddit’s r/Louisiana, users were quick to express anger toward the governor and Republican lawmakers for passing the law. One of them said: “Got to love the party of small government that stays out of the way of business and believes in the free market… except when it involves LGBTQ.”
Others criticized the lawmakers’ priorities, saying, “Just, anything but giving us living wages, taxing oil companies their fair share, improving our health issues or boosting our education, right?” A person added: “If elected officials worried more about poverty, wages, and the environment as much as they worry about transgender people and religion, we’d be living in a utopian society.”
What seemed to offend some users the most was how specifically targeted at trans people they believed the law was: “People have no problem calling someone by a nickname; why is it all of a sudden a problem to call someone another name? It’s disgusting how people have a desire and need, to be hateful and disrespectful.”
Some users advocated for trans people to fight back: “Any trans person who is deadnamed should call the person who is deadnaming them a different name, until that behavior is corrected. Like if Gary deadnames you, start calling him Gertrude.”
The law is scheduled to take effect on August 1, 2026, and it is likely to remain controversial once it goes into effect.
