Louisiana Gov. Jeff Landry signed the 'Given Name Act' restricting school use of students' chosen names and pronouns

On June 19, 2024, in Baton Rouge, Louisiana Gov. Jeff Landry signed House Bill 121, the "Given Name Act," into law as Act No. 680. The measure, sponsored by Rep. Raymond Crews and passed by the Legislature, with the House concurring in Senate amendments 60-31 and the Senate passing the bill 27-9, bars public school governing authorities, including charter schools, from adopting any policy that requires staff or students to inquire about or use a name or pronoun for a student that is inconsistent with the student's "legal name" as it appears on the birth certificate, or with the student's "sex," which the statute defines strictly in immutable biological terms.

Under the law, a school employee may not be required to address a student by a name or pronoun inconsistent with the student's sex, and neither employees nor students may be disciplined for declining to do so -- meaning school staff are barred from being required to use a transgender student's chosen name or pronouns, and are shielded if they refuse. The Act creates a private civil cause of action, allowing injunctive relief, damages, and attorney fees, for violations, and requires every public school governing authority to adopt implementing policies. It took effect August 1, 2024.