Changes

In 1997, Hollis spoke out on the Senate floor against the proposed marriage amendment to the Louisiana constitution. "I'm absolutely convinced that those people who lead the alternate lifestyle do so because of genetics," Hollis said. He went on to say that he would not condemn their lifestyle, nor would he "vote for a constitutional amendment to bring it to a vote to divide our people..."<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.qrd.org/qrd/usa/louisiana/1997/antimarriage.amendment.killed.again-05.08.97|title=Louisiana Anti-Marriage Bill Defeated a Second Time Without a Single Vote Cast|date=May 8, 1997|publisher=''The Queer Resources Directory''|accessdate=October 28, 2013}}</ref> The amendment, offered up by then Senator Phil Short, would have brought the issue of marriage between people of the same sex in Louisiana, to a referendum in the state. After a number of senators spoke in opposition to the legislation, Short tabled the measure.

In 1997, Hollis spoke out on the Senate floor against the proposed marriage amendment to the Louisiana constitution. "I'm absolutely convinced that those people who lead the alternate lifestyle do so because of genetics," Hollis said. He went on to say that he would not condemn their lifestyle, nor would he "vote for a constitutional amendment to bring it to a vote to divide our people..."<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.qrd.org/qrd/usa/louisiana/1997/antimarriage.amendment.killed.again-05.08.97|title=Louisiana Anti-Marriage Bill Defeated a Second Time Without a Single Vote Cast|date=May 8, 1997|publisher=''The Queer Resources Directory''|accessdate=October 28, 2013}}</ref> The amendment, offered up by then Senator Phil Short, would have brought the issue of marriage between people of the same sex in Louisiana, to a referendum in the state. After a number of senators spoke in opposition to the legislation, Short tabled the measure.

In 2001, Hollis acknowledged that his son, Michael Hollis, is homosexual. He introduced a bill to prohibit all but the smallest businesses in Louisiana from discriminating against employees because of sexual preference.

In 2001, Hollis acknowledged that his son, Michael Hollis, is homosexual. He introduced a bill to prohibit all but the smallest businesses in Louisiana from discriminating against employees because of sexual preference. "This was a real gut issue for me. I realized this is probably not the smartest position, politically, to take. It would have been easy for me to be somewhere else. But I just reached down deep. I voted for it. I did the right thing, and I have had a calm feeling since," Hollis told the national homosexual publication ''The Advocate'' in its June 19, 2001 issue.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.thefreelibrary.com/Bighearted+on+the+bayou.-a075435290|title=Big Hearted on the Bayou|publisher=thefreelibrary.com|accessdate=October 28, 2013}}</ref> Mike Hollis is also a Louisiana Tech graduate and at the time was a Tech administrator who feared that he could be fired from his job. He since left the university and worked with his father in providing employee benefits consulting to both large and small companies in the region.

 

"This was a real gut issue for me. I realized this is probably not the smartest position, politically, to take. It would have been easy for me to be somewhere else. But I just reached down deep. I voted for it. I did the right thing, and I have had a calm feeling since," Hollis told the national homosexual publication ''The Advocate'' in its June 19, 2001 issue.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.thefreelibrary.com/Bighearted+on+the+bayou.-a075435290|title=Big Hearted on the Bayou|publisher=thefreelibrary.com|accessdate=October 28, 2013}}</ref> Mike Hollis is also a Louisiana Tech graduate and at the time was a Tech administrator who feared that he could be fired from his job. He since left the university and worked with his father in providing employee benefits consulting to both large and small companies in the region.

The Senate committee voted 3-2 to send the bill to the full chamber, where it was defeated.

The Senate committee voted 3-2 to send the bill to the full chamber, where it was defeated.