Louisiana lawmaker behind radical new law requiring The Ten Commandments He’s no stranger to the culture wars that will play out in public school classrooms across his state.
State Rep. Dodi Horton, a Republican from Haughton, Louisiana, is also a key sponsor of a bill in her state that would ban kindergarten through 12th grade teachers from discussing gender identity or sexual orientation. A similar law, dubbed “Don’t Say Gay” by critics, gained notoriety after it was passed in Florida.
The Ten Commandments bill is awaiting the signature of Louisiana Gov. Jeff Landry, a conservative Republican who signed it into law on Wednesday.
Civil liberties groups are already lining up to challenge the constitutionality of both Horton-backed laws. And they have precedent on their side—back in 1980, the Supreme Court ruled that classroom demonstrations of the Ten Commandments were unconstitutional.
NBC News contacted Horton. But in previous interviews, Horton has not apologized for handing over religion to public schools.
“I am not interested in an atheist. I’m not interested in a Muslim,” Horton, a Southern Baptist, said. He said during a House debate in April. “I want our children to see what God’s law is.”
Still, the law may face some liturgical problems because fresh signed charter It calls for the publication of the version of the Ten Commandments used by Protestants, which is scarce different from versions used by Catholics and Jews.
The daughter of a Shreveport, Louisiana, police officer, Horton is a 67-year-old married mother of three and grandmother of four, a heavily Protestant area of northwest Louisiana that is geographically and religiously closer to Dallas than New Orleans, which is strong. Catholic southern part of the state.
Horton, a high school graduate looks like he didn’t go to collegeHe was a longtime legislative aide to Henry Burns, whom he succeeded in 2016 after winning election to replace him in a heavily Republican district.
At the time, Horton said he was a member Fillmore Baptist Church in Haughton.
Horton’s first attempt was to get the “Don’t Say Gay” bill passed in 2022.
“Some teachers use classroom time to share their personal sexual orientation or gender identity choices with our most vulnerable citizens, our children,” Horton told the Louisiana House Education Committee without providing any evidence.
They should be teaching the curriculum, Horton told the students without saying, “Hey, everybody! Yesterday I was a woman, and tomorrow I can be such and such a man.”
Horton account did not leave the commission and he was completely withdrawn.
“Next year,” Horton swore.
But the next year, Horton introduced a bill that would require public schools to display “In God We Trust” in all public school classrooms. This law was signed in June 2023.
“He does not preach any particular religion, but he certainly recognizes a higher power.” Horton said at the time.
A self-proclaimed “problem solver,” Horton didn’t address the major cultural issues that thrust him into the national spotlight when he spoke to the local community in September 2023. Bossier Press-Tribune about what he might do if elected to a third and final term.
Instead, Horton talked about bread-and-butter issues like fighting crime, cutting taxes, and lowering home and auto insurance rates.
“I have the experience and proven conservative voting record that proves beyond doubt that I have truly been the voice of our people.”