Discrimination now prohibited
by governor’s executive order
 |
| Gov. Kathleen Blanco |
Members of the Louisiana Senate have killed legislation that would have made it illegal to discriminate against GLBT workers in state employment, according to a report posted Wednesday on the GLBT news website 365Gay.com.
The proposed legislation would have entrenched in law an executive order signed by Gov. Kathleen Blanco in 2004.
The executive order prohibits employment discrimination against gay and lesbian state government employees, bars harassment and requires any business contracting with the state to have a non-discrimination policy covering their lesbian and gay workers.
It is almost identical to the one signed by Gov. Edwin Edwards at the beginning of his last term. But since it is an executive order and not state law, it be rescinded by any future governor who takes office in the state.
Bills to mandate the provisions of the order were introduced in the House and Senate this session to prevent it from being dropped in the future.
The Senate defeated its version of the legislation on a 10-24 vote on Tuesday night.
The measure was defeated in the House earlier this month.
Supporters say they’ll continue to fight for passage of the measure.
But they admit the legislation still needs to receive considerably more support before it has a chance of passage.
This article appeared in the Dallas Voice print edition, May 26, 2006.
