Full Breakdown
Bossier Parish Schedules Hearing on Proposed Transgender Restroom Ordinance
8/7/2026, 9:52:30 AM
Proposed Ordinance and Upcoming Hearing
The Bossier Parish Police Jury voted unanimously on a Wednesday to advance a draft ordinance that would criminalize the use of a restroom in any parish-owned building when the facility does not correspond to an individual’s sex assigned at birth. The jury set a public hearing for early September, following a meeting in which numerous residents voiced opposition to the measure.
Legislative Details and Penalties
If enacted, the ordinance would apply to all facilities owned by the parish. It establishes a tiered penalty structure: a first offense would incur a $250 fine; a second offense could result in a fine of up to $500 plus 30 days in jail; a third offense would carry a $500 fine and up to six months of incarceration.
Opposition Voices
Transgender activist Aurora Rush, who testified at the meeting, argued that the proposal is a direct response to a hate crime she experienced six weeks earlier. She stated: “I came here today because I know that this bathroom ban is being passed in response to a hate crime that was committed against me six weeks ago, and I have never, ever been the type of person to back down to a bully,” — Aurora Rush . Rush also warned of heightened safety risks for transgender individuals, noting historical patterns of violence in gender-segregated spaces: “Statistical data has shown us, and we have decades of it, that when trans women are forced into male-only spaces, it is just as dangerous for them as it is for cisgender women,” — Aurora Rush .
Official Response
Police Jury officials indicated that the hearing will allow the community to weigh the proposed policy and its enforcement mechanisms. They emphasized that the ordinance’s advancement follows the testimony of residents both for and against the measure, and that the jury’s role is to consider public input before any final vote.
