Good News From The South! Louisiana Bans LGBT Discrimination

In a couple of weeks filled with really bad news coming out of the south, this little nugget from Louisiana is a real gem.

On Wednesday, Governor John Bel Edwards signed an executive order prohibiting discrimination against LGBT Louisianans. The order overturns an executive order by Edwards predecessor, Republican Bobby Jindal which protected employers and agencies that wouldn’t serve the LGBT community. Edwards said order was “bad for business, tourism and the Louisiana economy. Per NBC News, “Louisiana has no law protecting LGBT residents from employment discrimination. Edwards’ order protects state employees from discrimination over a variety of reasons, including race and religion in addition to sexual orientation and gender identity.” Edwards’ bill also explicitly protects transgender people. The nonprofit Forum for Equality called the order “a bold stroke to broaden equality in Louisiana,” while Equality Louisiana said it should spur the Legislature “to extend these employment protections to all workers in Louisiana, in both the public and private sectors.” The order was signed after months of pressure from gay rights groups and companies like IBM which worried that Jindal’s order would “create a hostile environment for our current and prospective employees.”