Just as a historic 2013 came to a close, LGBT Louisianians celebrated a big win. The town of Shreveport became the second municipality to protect its residents from discrimination in employment, housing and public accommodations based on sexual orientation, gender identity and gender expression.

This victory is the result of a two-year public education and organizing campaign that built critical support for the ordinance among Shreveport residents, businesses and policymakers.

With generous support from the State Equality Fund, Federation member Forum for Equality and P.A.C.E. (People Acting for Change and Equality) created the “Be Fair Shreveport” campaign. Focused on educating Louisianians about the lack of protections for LGBT individuals, the campaign organized support for LGBT-inclusive nondiscrimination policies from businesses and used creative media to connect with and persuade the public.

As a part of the “Be Fair Shreveport” campaign, Forum for Equality and P.A.C.E worked directly with area businesses and organizations, winning critical support from the Greater Shreveport Chamber of Commerce and the Shreveport-Bossier African-American Chamber of Commerce. To engage the public, the campaign developed a website, billboards and other media that informed residents of the need for a nondiscrimination policy, a critical part of the education process since research shows that people already believe LGBT people are protected from discrimination.

Because of this public education and organizing campaign, when the time came for a vote, the City Council passed the fairness ordinance in a historic 6 to 1 vote.

Although the “Be Fair Shreveport” campaign was a huge success -- and the ordinance passed overwhelmingly -- the road to victory wasn’t always easy. According to SarahJane Brady, Forum for Equality’s executive director, it took years of work to secure the bipartisan support that was necessary for passage.

And at the last minute, in the hours before the vote, the opposition attacked. Louisiana Family Forum, an anti-LGBT organization, tried to derail passage of the ordinance by mobilizing its supporters. But 6 out of 7 City Council members were not swayed by the hurtful lies and scare tactics of the opposition, and they voted in favor of equality.

The fight for fairness in Shreveport didn’t end after the ordinance passed. At the beginning of this year, the one dissenting council member, Ron Webb, filed a measure to repeal the city’s Fairness Ordinance only weeks after it passed.

SarahJane explains that Shreveport’s LGBT community was still celebrating its newly won protections when this repeal effort was launched:

“Everyone who had worked so tirelessly was frustrated and hurt at this attempt to roll back these hard-won protections. But the repeal was unsuccessful; only one Shreveport resident showed up at the council meeting in support of Webb’s proposal. We went from joy to frustration then back to joy and celebration all in a matter of weeks.”

The success of the “Be Fair Shreveport” campaign has not only led to increased protections for LGBT residents of Shreveport; it has also created momentum for nondiscrimination efforts in other Louisiana cities and towns.

Forum for Equality has already begun organizing in other communities across the state, applying the lessons learned in Shreveport to new and exciting campaigns in other parts of the state.

The Federation is proud to have been a partner to Forum for Equality as they led this winning campaign. According to SarahJane:

“Through and through, the Equality Federation was an essential part of making Shreveport a success. With their hands-on help with messaging, tools to engage the community and learning from partner organizations across the country, we were able to launch an amazing campaign to bring needed protections to the Shreveport community.”

Congratulations to Forum for Equality and its executive director SarahJane Brady for this win in Shreveport! We’re so proud to be a partner in the work you’re doing on behalf of LGBT Louisianians!