Louisiana's Republican attorney general successfully blocked in court new measures protecting gay and transgender workers that the new Democratic governor has tried to put in place.
Jeff Landry has been caught in a confrontation with Gov. John Bel Edwards, who brought in the measures banning state agencies from discriminating against gay and transgender people, reported Reuters.
Landry, who has described himself as a "campaigner for conservative family values", started blocking several new contracts the state signed with companies that included those protections.
He accused the governor of overstepping his authority and largely steered clear of directly discussing gay rights. But his stance has won support from conservative lawmakers and groups across the state, including the Louisana Family Forum.
Edwards brought a lawsuit trying to prevent Landry from blocking the contracts. But Landry said a state judge in Louisiana's capital Baton Rouge dismissed that lawsuit on Monday.
"All along, I have stated my intention to put Louisiana's best interests forward as I serve as the state's chief legal officer," Landry said in a statement. He would "not cower to executive overreach," he added.
There was no immediate comment from the governor. But a member of his legal team told the judge they would appeal, The Advocate newspaper said.
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