We Lost A Major Battle In State Court

Down in Louisiana the governor tried to do an end run around the legislature and issue an executive order protecting LGBT employees but the court would hear none of it.

Supreme Court shoots down Governor's order barring LGBT discrimination against workers
The Advocate
By Mark Ballard
March 23, 2018

A split Louisiana Supreme Court on Friday shot down Gov. John Bel Edwards’ order that bans companies contracting with the state from discriminating against LGBT employees.

The 5-2 majority, without comment, refused to hear Edwards' appeal, which essentially nullified his April 13, 2016, executive order.

Trial and appellate courts had ruled Edwards overstepped his authority by issuing an order when the Legislature disagreed on the policy of creating a “gender identity” protection within the state’s executive branch agencies, including those headed by elected officials, as well as the private companies seeking to do business with state government.

Of course the conservatives are doing a jig over their victory while thousands of LGBT people are wondering if they will have a job tomorrow.

Louisiana Supreme Court Chief Justice Bernette J. Johnson, of New Orleans, wrote in her dissent that the high court’s majority held “an unreasonably restrictive view” of the governor's authority and that their refusal to sort out this issue "may spell doom for longstanding anti-discrimination policies" in other institutions.

"I am dismayed that Louisiana finds itself, yet again, on the wrong side of history in a matter of civil rights and social justice," she said.

I hope businesses who are thinking of moving to Louisiana will stop and think twice before they move, do they want to hire the best employees and will their employees feel welcome to move to a state like Louisiana?