Louisiana Takes a Step Backwards

Louisiana Gov. Bobby Jindal (R) is dropping an executive order prohibiting employment discrimination against gay and lesbian state workers that was put in place in 2004 by his Democratic predecessor.
Jindal said Wednesday that when the order expires Friday he will not renew it.
“The reason for allowing the order to lapse is that I don’t think it is necessary to create additional special categories or special rights,” Jindal told The New Orleans Advocate newspaper.
“We are firmly and strongly committed to fair treatment of all of our people and certainly don’t condone discrimination in any form,” Jindal said.
The executive order, signed by then-Gov. Kathleen Blanco, bars state agencies and contractors from various sorts of harassment and discrimination by race, religion, gender, sexual orientation, national origin political affiliation or disabilities. It was modeled after a similar anti-discrimination order issued in 1992 by then-Gov. Edwin Edwards.
The governor said that federal law already bans discrimination. But neither federal nor Louisiana state law bars discrimination against LGBTs in employment.
That Jindal is allowing the order to expire is no surprise. He has fought it since its inception.