Democrat John Bel Edwards, who trounced Republican David Vitter in the recent Louisiana gubernatorial race, is making clear his priorities.Â
Elections matter, and to the LGBT community in one of the nation’s least LGBT friendly states, last month’s election of Democrat John Bel Edwards should make a big difference.
Edwards is far from a typical Democrat. He is anti-choice, a strong Second Amendment supporter, and personally opposes same-sex marriage but accepts it as the law of the land.
That said, after meeting today with outgoing GOP Governor Bobby Jindal, Edwards announced that he will sign an executive order providing workplace protections from firing and harassment for LGBT state and government contracted employees.
The order is somewhat limited in that it cannot cover areas of government over which Edwards does not have control, such as the judicial branch.
When taking office Governor Jindal rescinded a previous order, calling it “unnecessary.”
“People deserve not to be fired from their jobs because of who they are,” said Matthew Patterson, of Equality Louisiana, told the Times-Picayune.
But not everyone across the state is pleased.
“I have equal concerns that religious liberties may be jeopardized,” Rev. Gene Mills, head of the anti-gay Louisiana Family Forum says. The Times-Picayune notes “Mills has repeatedly stopped legislation that would have made nondiscrimination policies like Edwards’ imminent executive order permanent.”
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Hat tip:Â Equality Case Files
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