From the Baton Rouge, Louisiana, Advocate:
Calling the executive order unnecessary, Gov. Bobby Jindal said Wednesday he would not reissue a ban on discriminating against gays and lesbians in the workplace.
“We are not going to renew it and that shouldn’t come as a surprise to anybody,” Jindal said about the executive order signed by then-Gov. Kathleen Blanco in December 2004. The order, which some church groups and Jindal have criticized over the years, is set to expire Friday.
It's true. There's no real surprise here, but much to be regretted. Family Forum virtually runs the governor's office and the legislature here in Louisiana, and they did not want the ban on discrimination because of sexual orientation to continue.
Jindal’s decision means “it is perfectly legal to fire anyone based on their sexual orientation even if they are a perfect employee,” said Randy Evans, a New Orleans lawyer who is co-political director of Forum for Equality, a New Orleans-based political action committee for the lesbian and gay community in Louisiana.
The executive order provided predictability and safety for gay and lesbian employees, he said.
That's exactly right. But Family Forum says we can't have that.
Louisiana Family Forum is a group that seeks to “persuasively present biblical principles” in political and other issues. During the campaigns last year, the group’s leaders told Jindal and some legislators running for office, how disappointed they were in Blanco for signing the executive order, said Gene Mills of Baton Rouge, the group’s executive director.
“Gov. Jindal comes from a different mindset, understanding the damage that this potentially poses to children and to the economy. He decided not to re-up that executive order but to simply let it sunset,” Mills said.
Damage to children and damage to the economy? How so? If the state is seen to oppose ALL discrimination, this will cause damage to children? What is the message? Discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation is good? Is that what you want your children to know? What about gay and lesbian young people? Is the message to them, "Get out. Relocate if you want to climb the ladder of success. Louisiana is not a good place for you?"
With respect to the economy, it seems to me that a decision like this is a blow to developing a more welcoming environment for businesses to locate here. The message is what? We want you to come, and you can discriminate against gays and lesbians all you like. Does Jindal believe that gays and lesbians are not part of the workforce, that they do not contribute to the economy? I could go on, but I believe that you get my point.
A developing theocracy is a good description of Louisiana governance.
Obviously the potential for damage to MY children doesn't occur to them.
ReplyDeleteAlso, studies ahve shown that gay-friendly places have more robust economies, as they attract the creative class of innovators. You know, like Silicon Valley or the 128-corridor in Boston?
Sometimes, I really think we should just cut the south off. Sorry, Mimi, but this is willfully evil and just disgusting.
:-(
IT
IT, our two previous Democratic governors had the order in place. Don't cut us off. We're not all like Jindal and the Family Forum. For all Jindal's Rhodes Scholarship credentials, many of his policies are wrong-headed, even downright stupid, shooting-yourself-in-the-foot kind of things. And yes. It is an evil and disgusting decision.
ReplyDeleteGee, I bet I'm responsible for the damage done by mosquitos and high credit card interest rates, too, and just didn't know it. Thanks for straightening me out, Gov.
ReplyDeleteWell, just shows to go us that the struggle continues. And let's be fair, various forms of this kind of thing don't only happen in the south.
A luta continua.
The man is obviously mad
ReplyDeleteScott, you and IT and a number of other folks I know, either in real life or virtually, are responsible for any number of things. You can add hurricanes, floods, and tornadoes to the mix. The wrath of God, you know.
ReplyDeleteThe man is obviously mad
What can I say, David. He exorcises demons. Sorry, but you have to pay to read the entire article. It's weird, I can tell you. I have a copy, but, under copyright law, I'm not permitted to reproduce it.
I personally know the bisexual woman who is singlehandedly responsible for the Mount St. Helens eruption.
ReplyDeleteTo paraphrase Bette Davis, "What a Creep!"
ReplyDeleteMike, you know what I mean.
ReplyDeleteSusan, creep is the word.
There is little, if any, evidence to support the contention that protecting gays and lesbians from arbitrary firing is bad for children.
ReplyDeleteThe suggestion that such protection is bad for the economy is an out and out demonstrable lie.
Of course, the homophobic case doesn't do well with facts. That's why it depends on the constant repetition of complete falsehoods.
That fact that asshat McCain would have had him on any list for VP says volumes. Jindal is crazy and well, Louisiana is not a place I would live. I can't stand that kind of homophobic, theocratic bs. What perversions of the Bible they perpetrate.
ReplyDeleteMalcolm, their reasoning is absurd. The politicians here, as in other areas, are deathly afraid of the fundies.
ReplyDeleteAfeatheradrift, I don't have much choice about living in Louisiana, unless I want to leave my husband of 47 years. He's not going anywhere. If I could, I'd live in New Orleans, my native city.
Mimi, the Mount St. Helens comment has a very long and esteemed history. It all started out on CompuServe many years ago when one of the nutcases IN ALL SERIOUSNESS set out to prove the theory that gay caused the sinking of Atlantis.
ReplyDeleteMike, that's not one I had heard before. It's hard to be surprised at what goes around IN ALL SERIOUSNESS.
ReplyDeleteYou tell 'em Grandmère Mimi. I hope you sent a copy of your post to him.
ReplyDeleteNo, Lindy, I didn't, but it's a thought. He wouldn't read the email, but some of his staff might.
ReplyDeleteIf you'd meet him in person, which I have, you'd know that it would not do any good. He's a programmed automaton, and nothing penetrates that doesn't match up with his pre-programming.
He's a "devout" Roman Catholic convert from Hinduism, FWIW.
As for the economy of Louisiana, I wonder what the impact would be if the tons of gay men planning to take over all the Quarter and downtown hotels for Southern Decadence a week from now were suddenly to change plans and not bring their tourist dollars here. You gonna tell me Saks won't know the difference?
ReplyDeleteWell, there you go Mimi! There's nothing as rabid as a convert!
ReplyDeletePaul, it would make a tremendous difference, but it would be punishing New Orleans, which many of the rest of the residents of Louisiana don't like anyway. They wish it would drown and disappear. It's wicked, you know. I'd say do it, except that New Orleans needs the business badly right now. New Orleans is hardly part of the US, much less part of Louisiana. It's like a tiny foreign principality. Southern Decadence finds New Orleans irresistible anyway. And you're gonna be gone during the festivities, right?
ReplyDeleteSusan, yes. And apparently, love your neighbor as yourself doesn't apply.
Nothing profound to say. Just that this kind of ignorance and bias makes me tired.
ReplyDeleteWho's protecting children and the economy from Jindal?
Mimi, Will Rogers said that New Orleans is one of America's 4 unique cities.
ReplyDeleteThe others are Boston, San Antonio, and San Francisco, according to him.
Mike, I still have a voucher for a flight on ExpressJet, which plans to stop flying out of New Orleans on Sept. 1. San Antonio is one of the few cities I can fly to. Should I do it? I know it will be hot. It would have to be next week.
ReplyDeleteWho's protecting children and the economy from Jindal?
ReplyDeleteRuth, good question.
grandmere,
ReplyDelete(pre-empting mike's answer) YES! Don't mind the heat, just go. Each time I do it (Minneapolis is the next stop), I find that it's where I was supposed to be at the time.
Blessings...
Dunno, Mimi. It is still hot here, although not as hot as last month because of some rainy weather. Dunno how long that will last. And then it stays humid for awhile after rain.
ReplyDeleteSan Antonio?
ReplyDeleteHuh. Not sure I would have put it on that list.
IT
Scott, you're outnumbered. We'll see.
ReplyDeleteIT ... I'm not sure how that list was made, but I've always thought it was because of the cultural heritages the cities preserve, at least to some extent. But then I'm not exactly sure what cultural heritage is connected with Boston ... maybe Irish or British? And then there's the uniqueness of San Francisco's topography.
ReplyDeleteIn years past, the same people would have used nearly the SAME language, to justify discrimination against the dark-skinned like Jindal (and/or "heathens", like his parents)
ReplyDeleteLord have mercy!
In much better news:
1) a Native American tribe in Oregon has authorized same-sex marriage, beginning immediately. Can't be repealed by ANY U.S. voters or courts, no way no how!
2) Hallmark will market same-sex marriage cards!
Nevermind ASSHATS like Jindal: we are WINNING!!! Alleluia! :-D
JCF, that's quite true.
ReplyDeleteI read about the Native American tribe that legalized same-sex marriages, AND about the Hallmark cards. Watch if a fundie group doesn't call for a boycott of Hallmark.
Oh San Antonio should definitely be on the list! Heck, it's older than the country it's located in (the Presidio was established in 1716).
ReplyDeleteIf you decide to go, email me and I can suggest some neat things to see & do there.