Ten Louisiana lawmakers just voted against an animal abuse ban because of a fight over gay rights

Ten Louisiana lawmakers just voted against an animal abuse ban because of a fight over gay rights

Ten Republican senators voted against the state's new animal sex ban after a dispute over updating Louisiana's old sodomy laws.

When we elect leaders, we expect them to protect those who cannot protect themselves. But a group of lawmakers just chose to keep animal abuse legal to avoid giving rights to gay couples.

What Happened

The Louisiana Senate voted on a new bill called Senate Bill 236. The bill makes it a crime to have sex with animals. It passed with 25 yes votes and 10 no votes.

All 10 lawmakers who voted no are Republicans. They did not vote no because they like animal abuse. They voted no because of a rule about human sex.

Louisiana had an old law that banned "crimes against nature." The court threw out that law in 2003. This new bill says sex between two consenting adults is not a crime, which those 10 senators did not want.

What the records show

• Senate Bill 236 passed the Louisiana Senate with a 25 to 10 vote.
• All 10 senators who voted against the ban are members of the Republican party.
• The state's old law against animal sex was thrown out by courts in 2003.
• The new bill explicitly removes the ban on sex between two human beings.
• The bill must now pass the state House to become law.

The Bigger Question

Why do our leaders let old, dead laws get in the way of common sense? Most people agree that hurting animals is wrong.

Yet, because of political fights over gay rights, 10 leaders chose to leave animals unprotected. We must ask ourselves if political points are worth more than safety.

The Other Side

The 10 senators who voted no say they want to keep the old sodomy laws on the books. They believe the state should still condemn same-sex couples.

Based on the facts, this argument is weak because the highest court in the land already ruled those old sodomy laws are against the main law of the land.

What Happens Now

The bill now goes to the Louisiana House. If the House passes it, the governor can sign it into law.

Until then, the state remains without a clear, active law to stop this specific kind of animal abuse.

What We Still Don't Know

• Will the Louisiana House vote the same way as the Senate?
• How will voters react to these 10 senators in the next election?
• Are there other old, thrown-out laws that still cause issues in the state?

Source Note

This story is based on reports from KRDO News and public state senate voting records.