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If You Thought Indiana’s Law Was Bad, Louisiana’s “Religious Freedom” Legislation Is Far Worse
http://www.forwardprogressives.com/if-you-thought-indiana-was-bad-louisianas-religious-freedom-legislation-is-far-worse/Here in Louisiana, anti-gay bigots are likely chomping at the bit and wetting their white robes in excitement over new pro-discrimination, “religious freedom” legislation which a Shreveport Republican will be introducing to the state legislature soon.
Louisiana’s proposed legislation is not like the law in Indiana which could be used to discriminate against LGBT persons – it will be drafted specifically to allow discrimination. While Indiana’s governor has asked for their “religious freedom” law to have its language clarified to avoid the possibility of state-sanctioned bigotry, Louisiana is going for full-blown prejudice.
Yes, Louisiana had to go and outdo Indiana, because heaven forbid other states beat us in the race back to the 19th century....
This bill isn’t a copy of the law passed in Indiana which seems to be prefabricated for use by conservative legislatures across the United States; this is legislation that would go beyond that and sanction a very specific type of discrimination under the guise of “religious freedom.” If this sounds familiar, it is a very similar argument to one that Maurice Bessinger used unsuccessfully before the Supreme Court 50 years ago. Mr. Bessinger claimed that despite laws outlawing segregation, his religious beliefs trumped federal law under the 1st Amendment. Maurice Bessinger lost his appeal of Newman v. Piggie Park Enterprises to the Supreme Court, in an unanimous decision of 8-0.
Louisiana’s proposed legislation is not like the law in Indiana which could be used to discriminate against LGBT persons – it will be drafted specifically to allow discrimination. While Indiana’s governor has asked for their “religious freedom” law to have its language clarified to avoid the possibility of state-sanctioned bigotry, Louisiana is going for full-blown prejudice.
Yes, Louisiana had to go and outdo Indiana, because heaven forbid other states beat us in the race back to the 19th century....
This bill isn’t a copy of the law passed in Indiana which seems to be prefabricated for use by conservative legislatures across the United States; this is legislation that would go beyond that and sanction a very specific type of discrimination under the guise of “religious freedom.” If this sounds familiar, it is a very similar argument to one that Maurice Bessinger used unsuccessfully before the Supreme Court 50 years ago. Mr. Bessinger claimed that despite laws outlawing segregation, his religious beliefs trumped federal law under the 1st Amendment. Maurice Bessinger lost his appeal of Newman v. Piggie Park Enterprises to the Supreme Court, in an unanimous decision of 8-0.
This ought to go over well in the Lower Quarter and Faubourg Marigny (two NOLA neighborhoods that are among the gayest you'll ever see 
)! 
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Last edited Thu Apr 2, 2015, 06:37 PM - Edit history (1)
All the years of hard hard work have even paid off here in Kansas. I never imagined I would see change in my lifetime on LGBT issues but we worked as if they were just around the corner. I am so happy about some of what I am seeing. Still a ways to go. Other states may feel they have to try to get these laws on the books but they would be really really stupid to try. Some will, some are just that stupid. Like Kansas, my oh my.
ON EDIT: Oh well, it does not look to have actually been made better today. 
Tuesday. 
