Louisiana Governor-elect John Bel
Edwards plans to issue an executive order protecting LGBT state
employees and government contractors.
According to The Times-Picayune,
Edwards, a Democrat, told the paper he plans to sign such a document
after he takes office on January 11.
“People deserve not to be fired from
their jobs because of who they are,” Matthew Patterson of Equality
Louisiana told the paper.
Outgoing Republican Governor Bobby
Jindal refused to sign a similar order, saying it was “unnecessary.”
“We are certainly looking forward to
having a governor that makes human rights a priority,” said
Sarah Jane Brady of the Forum for Equality.
Gene Mills, head of the Christian
conservative Louisiana Family Forum, said that his group would fight
the directive.
“I have equal concerns that religious
liberties may be jeopardized,” he said.