Though he didn’t make LGBTQ issues a large part of his campaign, Louisiana’s incoming Democratic governor, John Bel Edwards, is already proving to be an ally to the gay community and he hasn’t even taken office yet.
Yesterday, Edwards, who defeated antigay Republican Sen. David Vitter in the gubernatorial race last month in an landslide, announced plans to issue an executive order protecting government employees and contractors from being fired, harassed or discriminated against on the basis of sexual orientation.
Related: Sen. David Vitter Promises He No Longer Pays For Prostitutes. But, Don’t Worry, He’s Still Antigay!
The state’s previous executive order prohibiting discrimination against LGBT state employees and contractors lapsed in 2008 after religious freedom fighter/failed 2016 presidential candidate Bobby Jindal refused to renew it, calling the law “unnecessary.”
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“We are certainly looking forward to having a governor that makes human rights a priority,” Sarah Jane Brady, with Forum for Equality, a LGBT advocacy group, told NOLA.com.
Edwards did not indicate exactly when he will issue the executive order, but he implied that it will be shortly after taking office. He is set to be sworn in as governor on January 11.
Related: Louisiana Gov. Bobby Jindal Calls Antigay Religious Freedom Laws “Common Sense”
h/t: NOLA.com
Adam Wayne Hrincevich
I love him already.
onthemark
Good news, & his election is a good sign.
Realitycheck
@onthemark: Absolutely, it tells us how Louisiana people felt about Jindal and his antigay politics.
It is also a good sign for the next presidential election.
Kangol
@Realitycheck: The election was also about John Bel Edwards’ horrible, anti-gay, lying, hypocritical, r@cist opponent, Senator Pampers Vitter. He was scumbag of the worst kind. He’ll probably become a high paid lobbyist since he was denied the opportunity to screw up Louisiana any further than Jindal already did.
James Hart
Knowing Louisiana, this will be his one and only term. I’m sure the GOP is already getting ready to beat him over the head with his LGBTQ views the next time around.
James Hart
@Realitycheck: Ridiculous. You certainly don’t know Louisiana.
Giancarlo85
Republicans are in for a total shellacking next year. Even in Louisiana, they realized how full of shit republicans are.
Jindal was absolutely disgustingly awful.
@James Hart: And I’m sure you’ll be cheering them on.
captainburrito
At least one good thing came out of Jindal running for Repub nomination, if that is why he wasn’t running for governor again.
Stache
I always thought it funny that Piush thought that if he was just white enough and anti gay enough his base would be color blind and elect him Prez. As if bigotry was ever limited to just one group.