- LGBT rights in Louisiana
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LGBT rights in Louisiana
Louisiana (US)Same-sex sexual activity legal? Legal since 2003
(Lawrence v. Texas)Gender identity/expression - Recognition of
relationshipsNone Restrictions:Louisiana Constitutional Amendment 1 (2004) limits marriage to man/woman, places restrictions on non-marriage types of same-sex unions
Louisiana Civil Code article 89 prohibits persons of the same sex contracting a marriage.
Louisiana Civil Code article 3520 bans the recognition of purported same-sex marriages from other states.Adoption - Discrimination protections None (see below) Same-sex sexual activity is legal in Louisiana.
Contents
Laws against same-sex sexual activity
Sexual acts between persons of the same sex are legal in Louisiana. They were previously criminalized under the state's sodomy laws, which applied to both homosexuals and heterosexuals. They were rendered unenforceable in 2003 by the U.S. Supreme Court's decision in Lawrence vs. Texas.[1]
Recognition of same-sex relationships
On September 18, 2004, by a significant margin, the voters of Louisiana approved a state constitutional amendment, Louisiana Constitutional Amendment 1, that banned same-sex marriages and civil unions. The measure did not ban domestic partnerships, however.[2]
Additionally, the Louisiana Civil Code prohibits same-sex couples from contracting to marry, and prohibits the recognition of purported same-sex marriages from other states.[3] Both articles were amended to include the prohibitions in 1999 by the legislature.
Adoption and parenting
Louisiana allows single persons to adopt, and does not explicitly deny adoption or second-parent adoption to same-sex couples.[4]
Louisiana has successfully defended in federal court its refusal to amend the birth certificate of a child born in Louisiana and adopted in New York by a same-sex married couple, who sought to have a new certificate issued with their names as parents as is standard practice for Louisiana-born children adopted by opposite-sex married couples.[5] On July 11, 2011, Lambda Legal, representing the plaintiffs in the case, Adar v. Smith, asked the Supreme Court to review the case.[6]
Discrimination protections
Discrimination protections concerning employment within the state were allowed to expire in 2008.[7]
Hate crimes law
Louisiana is one of the few southern states which extended hate crimes protection to cover sexual orientation. It does not cover gender identity.[8][9]
See also
- Politics of Louisiana
- LGBT rights in the United States
- Rights and responsibilities of marriages in the United States
References
- ^ New York Times: "Supreme Court Strikes Down Texas Law Banning Sodomy," June 26, 2003, accessed April 13, 2011
- ^ Same-sex marriage in Louisiana
- ^ La. C.C. arts. 89, 3520
- ^ Huan Rights Campaign: Louisiana Adoption Law , accessed April 13, 2011
- ^ NOLA: "Gay dads lose appeal in Louisiana birth certificate case," April 12, 2011, accessed April 13, 2011
- ^ Wall Street Journal: July 11, 2011, accessed July 11, 2011
- ^ Louisiana gov. drops gay anti-discrimination order
- ^ Louisiana Hate Crimes Law
- ^ Ramon Johnson, "Hate Crime Laws and Sexual Orientation", accessed April 13, 2011
Part of a series on LGBT rights in the United States By entity Alabama · Alaska · Arizona · Arkansas · California · Colorado · Connecticut · Delaware · Florida · Georgia · Hawaii · Idaho · Illinois · Indiana · Iowa · Kansas · Kentucky · Louisiana · Maine · Maryland · Massachusetts · Michigan · Minnesota · Mississippi · Missouri · Montana · Nebraska · Nevada · New Hampshire · New Jersey · New Mexico · New York · North Carolina · North Dakota · Ohio · Oklahoma · Oregon · Pennsylvania · Rhode Island · South Carolina · South Dakota · Tennessee · Texas · Utah · Vermont · Virginia · Washington · West Virginia · Wisconsin · WyomingInsular areaBy type Same-sex unions (Marriage · Civil union · Domestic partnership (by municipal areas)) · Sexual orientation and the United States military (Don't ask, don't tell · 2010 repeal)Nationwide
precedentsState amendments banning same-sex unions (Defense of Marriage Act) · Hate crime laws in the United States (Matthew Shepard and James Byrd, Jr. Hate Crimes Prevention Act) · Sodomy laws in the United States (Lawrence v. Texas)See also Categories:- Louisiana law
- Politics of Louisiana
- LGBT rights in the United States by state
- LGBT in Louisiana
- LGBT law stubs
- Louisiana stubs
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