Republicans strip Louisiana's only LGBTQ+ elected official of leadership role
Davante Lewis tells The Advocate about his removal as vice chairman on Louisiana's Public Service Commission, which he believes was racially and politically motivated.
Just some particularly poignant snippets
The motion passed 3-2 along party lines, though without the support of the community, as the meeting was attended by dozens of civilians who unanimously spoke in support of Lewis.
Francis called the comments "an embarrassment to me," stating via WBRZ that Lewis "can't talk like that" because "it's way out of bounds to insult another public official." Francis did not address the governor's insult aimed at another public official.
Francis and the other Republicans also faced accusations of hypocrisy during the meeting. Foster Campbell, the other Democrat on the commission, noted that Francis once walked behind him with a sign that read "bullshit" while he was giving a speech during a PSC meeting. Both Campbell and Lewis recounted during the meeting that the Republican chosen to replace Lewis, Eric Skrmetta, is "the one commissioner who has had the most aggressive behavior at us all."