BATON ROUGE, La. (AP) - An anti-discrimination order put in place by former Gov. Kathleen Blanco four years ago won't be renewed by Gov. Bobby Jindal when it expires Friday.
The order — enacted by Blanco on Dec. 6, 2004 — bars state agencies and contractors from various sorts of harassment and discrimination by race, religion, gender, sexual orientation, national origin, political affiliation or disabilities.
Jindal said Wednesday that discrimination is prohibited under state and federal laws and he doesn't want to create more special categories by executive order. He also said he worried it could cause problems with faith-based organizations' ability to contract with the state, a concern he raised when Blanco issued the order and when Jindal was a congressman.
"We're not going to renew it. That shouldn't come as a surprise," he said when questioned about the order's expiration. "We oppose discrimination. I think we've got strong federal and state laws that protect our people."
The order by Blanco stirred up complaints at the time it was issued, modeled after a similar anti-discrimination order issued in 1992 by then-Gov. Edwin Edwards. Conservative groups derided the executive order while gay rights groups applauded it.
When it was issued in 2004, Blanco's office said much of the language already was covered under federal law, and the governor said she was stating a policy that everyone should be treated fairly in the workplace.
The Legislature has in recent years rejected several proposals aimed at ensuring equal legal protections for gays and lesbians.
Comments
Posted by kobe05d on August 21, 2008 at 3:25 p.m. (Suggest removal)
This decision is SO ridiculous that it makes me sick. I can't even find words to describe how ticked off this makes me. The year is 2008 and this is the United States of America... we call ourselves the best nation in the country and yet we still don't protect all citizens from discrimination. This is not acceptible!
Posted by fourx5 on August 21, 2008 at 5:05 p.m. (Suggest removal)
kobe05d, son't you know that being gay is wrong, and it says so in the bible? The single place in the bible where it mentions that being gay is wrong is right next to where it says don't eat shellfish! So all you oyster-lovin' gays out there, don't look to the government to help you when you're fired for being....different.
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