A House bill to prohibit discrimination in housing based on gender identity or sexual orientation advanced out of the House Commerce Committee Monday. Bill sponsor and New Orleans Democrat Representative Aimee Freeman says her HB 303 parallels federal law already in place.
“The federal law already protects these individuals from discrimination, and all I ask is that we in Louisiana put our state law in line with federal law,” said Freeman.
But committee members questioned why – if there is already a federal law – is a state statute necessary? Metairie Republican Representative Polly Thomas asks how a landlord or seller would even determine a person’s gender preference or identity.
“I just don’t see how someone would know someone’s sexual orientation or gender identity. I guess what I’m saying is: the current law appears to me to be adequate,” said Thomas
A motion was made to kill Freeman’s bill. That received a terse response from New Orleans Democrat Rep. Royce Duplessis, who pointed out that not one person who filed an opposition “red card” chose to come to committee and testify against Freeman’s bill. He calls that “embarrassing and frustrating”…:
“Look, if the bill is that bad, come to the table and explain why the bill is that bad. Don’t just come put in a red card, ’cause you know that you have the votes and you know you can kill a bill,” said Duplessis.
Another motion was made to advance the bill beyond the committee and it passed without objection; moving now to the House floor.
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