Louisiana advances bill to protect same-sex couples in domestic abuse cases
A bill to protect same-sex couples under the state’s domestic abuse laws has advanced in Louisiana.
House bill 27 passed at Lousiana’s Senate Judiciary Committee unanimously on Tuesday.
The bill would amend state law to protect same-sex couples with legal protection in cases of domestic abuse.
Sponsored by Representative Patrick Connick, the bill would apply to any couple in a sexual or intimate relationship.
This means state law would still cover married and straight couples, but would also extend state law to protect same-sex couples.
It also protects those who have been in relationships in the past.
Connick says “all victims” of domestic abuse should be covered by state law.
He adds: “Everyone has a right to be protected from violence.”
Louisiana’s Governor last year rescinded his predecessor’s anti-gay laws and issued an Executive Order outlawing anti-LGBT discrimination.
The previous Governor of Louisiana Bobby Jindal was one of the most notoriously anti-LGBT Governors in the US – having issued orders to protect the ‘religious freedom’ to discriminate against gay people, and pledged to block same-sex weddings.
But Jindal’s chosen successor was ousted in 2015’s election by Democrat John Bel Edwards – and Governor Edwards has wasted no time in bringing around change.
But Edwards overstepped his authority by issuing an executive order to protect LGBT+ people, a judge ruled in 2016.
