Louisiana

Louisiana

Flag of Louisiana

Admittance Order: 18th

Admitted to US: April 30th 1812 (213 years ago)

Governor: Jeff Landry (R)

Lt. Governor: Billy Nungesser (R)

Senators: Bill Cassidy (R) John Kennedy]] (R)

Representatives: 4 Republicans 2 Democrats

Official State website

Capital: Baton Rouge

Largest city: New Orleans

Resource Guide: RL-LA

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This article contains information that may change due to political elections and evolving sexual norms. {This article last updated:05/10/2025)

Louisiana is a state in the Deep South and South Central regions of the United States. It is the 20th-smallest by area and the 25th most populous of the 50 U.S. states. Louisiana is bordered by the state of Texas to the west, Arkansas to the north, Mississippi to the east, and the Gulf of Mexico to the south. The Mississippi River demarcates a large part of its eastern boundary. Louisiana is the only U.S. state with political subdivisions termed parishes, which are equivalent to counties, making it one of only two U.S. states not subdivided into counties (the other being Alaska and its boroughs). The state's capital is Baton Rouge, and its largest city is New Orleans.

Some Louisiana urban environments have a multicultural, multilingual heritage, being so strongly influenced by a mixture of 18th-century French, Saint Dominican, Spanish, French Canadian, Acadian, Native American, and African cultures that they are considered to be exceptional in the U.S. Before the American purchase of the territory in 1803, the present–day U.S. state of Louisiana had been both a French colony and for a brief period a Spanish one. In addition, colonists imported various African peoples as slaves in the 18th century. Many came from peoples of the same region of West Africa, thus concentrating their culture; Filipinos also arrived during colonial Louisiana. In the post–Civil War environment, Anglo Americans increased the pressure for Anglicization, and in 1921, English was for a time made the sole language of instruction in Louisiana schools before a policy of multilingualism was revived in 1974. Louisiana has never had an official language, and the state constitution enumerates "the right of the people to preserve, foster, and promote their respective historical, linguistic, and cultural origins."

Based on national averages, Louisiana frequently ranks low among the U.S. regarding health, education, and development and high in measures of poverty. In 2018, Louisiana was ranked as the least healthy state in the country, with high levels of drug-related deaths and excessive alcohol consumption, while it has had the highest homicide rate in the United States since at least the 1990s.

Much of the state's lands were formed from sediment washed down the Mississippi River, leaving enormous deltas and vast areas of coastal marsh and swamp. These contain a rich southern biota; typical examples include birds such as ibises and egrets. There are also many species of tree frogs and fish, such as sturgeon and paddlefish. In more elevated areas, fire is a natural process in the landscape and has produced extensive areas of longleaf pine forest and wet savannas. These support an exceptionally large number of plant species, including many species of terrestrial orchids and carnivorous plants. Louisiana has more Native American tribes than any other southern state, including four that are federally recognized, ten that are state recognized, and four that have not received recognition.

Etymology

Louisiana was named after Louis XIV, King of France from 1643 to 1715. When René-Robert Cavelier, Sieur de La Salle claimed the territory drained by the Mississippi River for France, he named it La Louisiane. The suffix –ana (or –ane) is a Latin suffix that can refer to "information relating to a particular individual, subject, or place." Thus, roughly, Louis + ana carries the idea of "related to Louis." Once part of the French colonial empire, the Louisiana Territory stretched from present-day Mobile Bay to just north of the present–day Canada–United States border, including a small part of what are now the Canadian provinces of Alberta and Saskatchewan.

Attitudes toward the LGBTQ+ community in Louisiana

Attitudes toward the LGBTQ+ community in Louisiana are shaped by a complex interplay of growing public support, limited legal protections, and active political resistance.

Public Opinion

Growing Support Amid Challenges

Recent surveys indicate that most Louisiana residents support nondiscrimination protections for LGBTQ+ individuals. A 2022 Public Religion Research Institute (PRRI) poll found that 80% of Louisianans favor laws safeguarding LGBTQ+ people from discrimination in employment, housing, and public accommodations. Additionally, 62% support same-sex marriage, reflecting a notable increase from 48% in 2017.

Despite this growing support, challenges persist. A 2015 study by the Williams Institute revealed that 81% of Louisiana residents believe LGBTQ+ individuals experience moderate to significant discrimination in the state.

Legal Protections

Limited and Uneven

Louisiana lacks comprehensive statewide laws protecting LGBTQ+ individuals from discrimination in areas such as housing, public accommodations, and education. Only two cities—New Orleans and Shreveport—have enacted local ordinances offering full protections, covering just 12% of the state's population.

While the 2020 U.S. Supreme Court decision in Bostock v. Clayton County extended employment discrimination protections nationwide, Louisiana's state laws have not been updated to reflect these changes comprehensively. Furthermore, the state maintains a "no promo homo" law, which prohibits discussions of homosexuality in sex education classes. Wikipedia

Political Climate: Resistance and Activism The political landscape in Louisiana presents challenges for LGBTQ+ rights. In recent years, the state legislature has passed bills targeting LGBTQ+ youth, including restrictions on gender-affirming care and limitations on discussions of sexual orientation and gender identity in schools. These measures have often been met with vetoes from the governor, only to be overridden by the legislature.

Despite these setbacks, activism remains robust. In 2023, high school students in New Orleans staged a play on the steps of the state Capitol to protest anti-LGBTQ+ legislation, highlighting the mental health struggles faced by queer youth and advocating for acceptance and inclusivity. The Guardian

Cultural Landscape

A Rich History of Resilience

Louisiana's LGBTQ+ community has a rich history of resilience and activism. New Orleans, in particular, has long been a cultural hub for LGBTQ+ individuals, with vibrant communities and historical significance. The state's LGBTQ+ history includes both tragic events, such as the 1973 UpStairs Lounge fire, and significant milestones in the fight for equality.

Efforts to preserve and celebrate this history continue, with organizations and individuals working to document the contributions and experiences of LGBTQ+ Louisianans. These endeavors aim to foster understanding and promote inclusivity across the state.

History of the Louisiana Flag

The Louisiana State Flag features a blue background with a large white pelican wounding her breast to feed her three children with her own blood at the center of the flag. Below the pelican is a white banner that displays the state motto, "Union Justice Confidence," in black.

The pelican wounding herself to feed her children is a medieval symbol known as the "pelican in her piety." This symbol represents self-sacrifice and dedication to achieving progress. In medieval Europe, it was believed that pelicans would wound themselves to feed their children blood when other food sources were unavailable. The pelican is the state bird of Louisiana, and the same imagery is used on the state seal as well as the flag. The Louisiana State Flag was adopted on July 1st, 1912.

Louisiana is located in the southeastern region of the United States of America. It shares borders with Arkansas, Mississippi, Texas, and the Gulf of Mexico. The capital and second-largest city is Baton Rouge, while the largest city in Louisiana is New Orleans. Louisiana was named after Louis XIV, King of France, and is often referred to as "The Pelican State" due to the abundance of brown pelicans found along the coast, as well as the fact that the brown pelican is the state animal and a very important symbol. Louisiana is also sometimes referred to as "The Bayou State" due to its many slow and sluggish rivers, as well as "The Sugar State" because of the sugar cane that is grown in the state.

The earliest residents of Louisiana were Native Americans, including the Choctaw, Natchez, Chitimacha, and Atakapa tribes, among others. Europeans first explored the area that is now Louisiana in 1528 during the Panfilo de Narvaez expedition, which is remembered as the expedition that located the mouth of the Mississippi River. In the 17th century, the French and French Canadians established a foothold on the Mississippi River.

The first permanent settlement in Louisiana was Fort Maurepas, established in 1669 by French officer Pierre Le Moyne D'Iberville. In 1682, Robert Cavelier de La Salle named the area Louisiana, which translates to "related to Louis," and the City of Natchitoches was established in 1714. In 1718, the French Quarter (Vieux Carré, which translates as Old Square), now located in New Orleans, was founded by Jean-Baptiste Le Moyne, and New Orleans developed around it. In 1763, the Spanish took control of Louisiana but relinquished it to the French in 1800. The Louisiana Purchase in 1803 made Louisiana a territory of the United States. Following the Louisiana Purchase, Louisiana briefly became a territory known as New Orleans before eventually being admitted as the official 18th state of the United States of America on April 6th, 1812.

See also [ Mardi Gras ]

External links

Wikipedia article: Louisiana

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