John Bel Edwards will issue executive order protecting LGBT state employees
Gov.-elect John Bel Edwards plans to issue an executive order to protect the gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender community from firing, discrimination and harassment as state employees and government contractors.
Edwards' directive would cover state workers and government contractors in agencies and departments he oversees. But executive orders don't necessarily bind parts of state government outside the governor's control, such as the judiciary.
The Edwards' transition team did not provide a timeline for when the order might be issued, but the Democrat will be sworn into office Jan. 11. The governor-elect told NOLA.com | The Times-Picayune directly a few weeks ago that he planned to sign such a document after he takes office. Two LGBT advocacy groups said Edwards has made similar commitments to them as well.
"People deserve not to be fired from their jobs because of who they are," said Matthew Patterson, of Equality Louisiana, a LGBT advocacy group.
In most parts of Louisiana, it is still legal to fire someone for being gay or in a same-sex relationship. Only in New Orleans and Shreveport -- which have special local ordinances on the books -- are people prohibited from firing a person for being a member of the LGBT community.
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