Louisiana Gov. Bobby Jindal will not renew an executive order put in place by his predecessor that provides special rights for employees based on sexual orientation and other characteristics, The Associated Press reported.
The order — enacted by Gov. Kathleen Blanco in 2004 — required state agencies and contractors to provide special protections based on race, religion, gender, sexual orientation, national origin, political affiliation and disabilities.
Jindal said Wednesday state and federal laws are sufficient, and he doesn't want to create more special categories.
Last year, the U.S. House of Representatives approved legislation to give special rights to homosexuals and bisexuals in the workplace; the Senate did not take it up.
Ashley Horne, federal policy analyst for Focus on the Family Action, suggested Congress follow Jindal's commonsense approach.
"These types of laws are simply an attempt to silence and penalize the religious convictions of employers," Horne said.
