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Two civil liberties organizations and 6 individuals have sued Louisiana Governor Bobby Jindal claiming his executive order on marriage was unconstitutional because it discriminated against gays by giving special protections to people who opposed same sex marriage.
The American Civil Liberties Union Foundation of Louisiana, Forum for Equality Foundation, and 6 individual plaintiffs filed a suit June 30, challenging Jindal’s “Marriage and Conscience Order,” signed on May 19, because they argue he exceeded his constitutional authority and violated the principle of separation of executive and legislative powers. They also said the Order creates a class of persons who are protected over others because they believe same-sex couples should be denied marriage equality.
The New Orleans law firm Herman Herman & Katz have joined in filing suit. Steve Herman, a partner at the firm says the Order sends the message that same-sex couples, their families and friends, and supportive employers should avoid living, working or visiting Louisiana.
Jindal described the ACLU action as a “left wing lawsuit” in his statement adding, “Religious liberty is fundamental to our freedom as Americans, and I will not back down from defending it.” The Governor passed the executive order when a state House bill failed to pass. The intent of the Order, Jindal held, is to “prevent the state from discriminating against persons or entities with deeply held religious beliefs that marriage is between one man and one woman.”
Gov. Jindal appears to be swimming upstream as same-sex marriage appears to be becoming more widely acceptable including among some sections of the Republican Party. He also condemned the U.S. Supreme Court’s recent ruling recognizing same-sex marriage in all 50 states. In sharply turning toward the more evangelical Christian wing among conservatives, analysts say Jindal, who is aspiring to become the GOP’s choice for President, is losing his support among other sections. Polls show him trailing the 16 Republican contenders for the party nomination in the 2016 presidential race.
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