House Bill No. by Representative Boyd aims to amend existing Louisiana employment discrimination laws to include protections against discrimination based on gender identity and sexual orientation. The bill introduces new definitions for "gender identity" and "sexual orientation," clarifying that gender identity encompasses an individual's gender-related identity, appearance, or behavior, regardless of their physiology or designated sex at birth. It also specifies that sexual orientation refers to an individual's actual or perceived heterosexuality, homosexuality, or bisexuality.

The bill makes it unlawful for employers, employment agencies, and labor organizations to intentionally discriminate against individuals based on these new categories, alongside existing protected characteristics such as race, color, religion, and sex. Additionally, it maintains that certain exemptions for bona fide occupational qualifications apply to sexual orientation and gender identity, ensuring that employers can still make necessary distinctions in specific circumstances. Importantly, the bill also asserts that its provisions should not infringe upon the freedoms of expression, association, or the free exercise of religion as protected by the First Amendment and the Louisiana Constitution.

Statutes affected:
HB293 Original: 23:302, 23:332(A)(1)