The House Civil Law Committee approves legislation that would make it illegal to discriminate against a person based on certain hairstyles. That would include afros, dreadlocks, braids and other styles of cultural significance. New Orleans Representative Candace Newell is the author of the bill.
Newell says it's not just African Americans who could be victims of hair discrimination.
Newell says hair color is not part of the bill, so an employer could fire an employee for having blue, purple or green hair. The measure passed on an eight to six vote as two Republicans joined Democrats on the panel to vote for the legislation. Abita Springs Republican Larry Frieman says the bill leaves it open-ended on what hairstyles would be protected under this proposed discrimination law.
The House Labor Committee defeated a similar bill earlier in the session.