Earlier this week, Mississippi Governor Phil Bryant signed a rather controversial religious freedom bill into law.
The legislation, HB 1523, states that those individuals who choose to refuse service to people due to religious opposition to extramarital sex, same-sex marriage, or transgender people, will not be punished by the state government. In addition to refusal of service, the law also allows for religious organizations to fire or discipline employees based on religious opposition.
The Governor made a statement claiming that the reasoning behind signing the bill into law was to “protect sincerely held religious beliefs and morals convictions of individuals, organizations and private associations from discriminatory action by state government.”
LGBT groups, as well as many businesses both in Mississippi and out have criticized the bill for its intolerant nature, which amounts to a state sanction for open discrimination.
Bryant has said that this new law is meant to reinforce existing religious freedom rights and that it “does not limit any constitutionally protected rights or actions.”
Mississippi already permits the discrimination of LGBT people when it comes to providing employment, housing, and public accommodation.
LGBT advocates, as well as members of the Mississippi Manufacturers Association, Nissan North American, and Tyson Foods, have all called for the Governor to veto the legislation, which is set to go into effect on July 1, 2016.
The bill comes shortly after North Carolina passed a controversial measure mandating transgendered individuals to use public restrooms in accordance with the gender that is originally listed on their birth certificate.
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