Thursday, May 18, 2006

Why Would You Defeat This Bill?

House Bill 853:
The House defeated a bill that would have banned all job discrimination in state agencies, including actions based on sexual orientation.

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The bill would have prohibited the state, its departments, offices, commissions and boards from discriminating or harassing on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, national origin, political affiliation or disabilities. LaFonta said the major point of the bill was to focus on job discrimination based on sexual orientation.
Who would be against this bill?

Thanks to the internets, I now know:
Opposition to the bill came from ministers, a personnel management group and pro-family interests.

“It codifies into law immoral activity,” said the Rev. Bill Shanks, minister of the New Covenant Fellowship in the New Orleans area. “It gives the presumption, because it’s law, that this activity is correct.”
“This activity.” [I decided against a graphic hyperlink for this phrase. I am sure that you all know where to find one yourself.]

1 comment:

GentillyGirl said...

At least we have full protections for all here in N.O. Had them for almost nine years, and there's no way they can be removed. (crosses fingers...)

To actively discriminate against people and their lives just because you don't like what they do or are is a crime, period.

I'd love to be able to do job interviews for a State Office, and when an Evangelical-type comes in, I'd just ask, "What symbol hangs around your neck?"... "Next!"