Lambda Legal: Louisiana

Louisiana

Statewide Relationship Recognition
no	Licenses marriages for same-sex couples.
no	Honors marriages of same-sex couples from other jurisdictions.
no	Relationship recognition for same-sex couples: None.

2004 The state’s Constitution is amended to say “Marriage in the state of Louisiana shall consist only of the union of one man and one woman. No official or court of the state of Louisiana shall construe this constitution or any state law to require that marriage or the legal incidents thereof be conferred upon any member of a union other than the union of one man and one woman. A legal status identical or substantially similar to that of marriage for unmarried individuals shall not be valid or recognized. No official or court of the state of Louisiana shall recognize any marriage contracted in any other jurisdiction which is not the union of one man and one woman.” See Louisiana Constitution, Article XII, §15.
1999 Louisiana prohibits marriage between same-sex couples by statute. See Louisiana Civil Code Annotated, Articles 96 and 3520(B).

Statewide Employment Protections
no	Private employment protections based on sexual orientation.
no	Private employment protections based on gender identity.
no	Public (state) employment protections based on sexual orientation.
no	Public (state) employment protections based on gender identity.

See La. R.S. 23:332

2003 Governor Kathleen Babineaux Blanco issues an executive order banning discrimination based on sexual orientation against state employees, see Executive Order No. KBB 2004-54.

Statewide Parenting Laws
Who May Adopt	Single person or married couple jointly. La. CHC 1198, 1202
Second Parent Adoptions	Not yet permitted
Notes	Case law forbids joint adoptions by unmarried heterosexual couples. Adoption of Meaux, 417 So. 2d 522 (La. App. 1982). Relatively unfriendly climate See Scott v. Scott, 665 So.2d 760 (La. App. 1 Cir. 1995)

Cases

Adar v. Smith
Case successfully representing gay fathers in Louisiana who were refused a birth certificate for their newly adopted son by the office of State Registrar.

Andersen v. King County
Case seeking the right to marry for same-sex couples in Washington State

All Cases »