Religious freedom law draws ire

Republican Gov. Phil Bryant, center, walks behind his spokesman, Clay Chandler, left, as reporters ask him if he will sign a bill that would let government employees and private businesses cite religious beliefs to deny services to same-sex couples who want to marry, following a news conference on a youth jobs program at the Capitol in Jackson, Miss., Friday, April 1, 2016. Bryant would not say whether he will sign House Bill 1523, noting he had not received it yet and would need to study it first. Chandler tried to block reporters from asking questions by saying repeatedly: "Not today. Not today." (Rogelio V. Solis/The Associated Press)

By Shanderia K. Posey

Editor

Republican Gov. Phil Bryant, center, walks behind his spokesman, Clay Chandler, left, as reporters ask him if he will sign a bill that would let government employees and private businesses cite religious beliefs to deny services to same-sex couples who want to marry, following a news conference on a youth jobs program at the Capitol in Jackson, Miss., Friday, April 1, 2016. Bryant would not say whether he will sign House Bill 1523, noting he had not received it yet and would need to study it first. Chandler tried to block reporters from asking questions by saying repeatedly: "Not today. Not today." (Rogelio V. Solis/The Associated Press)
Republican Gov. Phil Bryant, center, walks behind his spokesman, Clay Chandler, left, as reporters ask him if he will sign a bill that would let government employees and private businesses cite religious beliefs to deny services to same-sex couples who want to marry, following a news conference on a youth jobs program at the Capitol in Jackson, Miss., Friday, April 1, 2016. Bryant would not say whether he will sign House Bill 1523, noting he had not received it yet and would need to study it first. Chandler tried to block reporters from asking questions by saying repeatedly: “Not today. Not today.” (Rogelio V. Solis/The Associated Press)

From local and national levels, responses are pouring in since Gov. Phil Bryant signed the religious freedom bill on Tuesday.

HB1523, authored by House Speaker Philip Gunn, is known as the Protecting Freedom of Conscience from Government Discrimination Act, and allows people and organizations to use their religious beliefs as reason to deny services such as marriage, adoption or foster care services to LGBT people and would also not grant employment protection to LGBT individuals. The law could also allow denial of services to unwed couples and single mothers.

In signing the law, Bryant said on his Twitter account, “I am signing HB 1523 into law to protect sincerely held religious beliefs and moral convictions of individuals, organizations and private associations from discriminatory action by state government or its political subdivisions, which would include counties, cities and institutions of higher learning. This bill merely reinforces the rights which currently exist to the exercise of religious freedom as stated in the First Amendment to the U.S. Constitution. This bill does not limit any constitutionally protected rights or actions of any citizen of this state under federal or state laws. It does not attempt to challenge federal laws, even those which are in conflict with the Mississippi Constitution, as the Legislature recognizes the prominence of federal law in such limited circumstances.The legislation is designed in the most targeted manner possible to prevent government interference in the lives of the people from which all power to the state is derived.”

The law should go into effect in July.

HG 1523 was a response to the U.S. Supreme Court’s ruling last year that legalized same-sex marriage. A number of other states have passed similar legislation. Mississippi’s law would not permit municipalities to create their own ordinances.

National organizations have been outspoken about objections to the law. Some states are taking measures to stop doing business with or in Mississippi.

New York’s Gov. Andrew Cuomo has announced a ban on state-funded non-essential travel to Mississippi because of the religious freedom law. Another governor, Jay Inslee in Washington, has also banned official travel to the state in response to the law. Inslee took action after Seattle, Wash. Mayor Ed Murray signed an executive order banning official city travel by employees to Mississippi.

Below are responses to the law:

Mississippi State Conference NAACP

There was a time when the idea that African Americans were only suited for slavery was once a sincerely held religious belief and moral conviction for citizens in Mississippi. There was a time when the idea that the intermarrying between whites and blacks was prohibited which was considered a sincerely held religious belief and moral conviction for citizens in Mississippi.

And now this same language is being used to deny another group of people what is their basic and legal right.

“It truly troubles me to know that Mississippi has yet to learn from its past as it continues to discriminate and divide its citizens,” says Derrick Johnson, president of the Mississippi State Conference NAACP.

Congressman Bennie Thompson

“The effect of signing this bill could be far-reaching and gravely damaging to our state. Industries that are considering bringing jobs to our state and talented individuals considering bringing their skills to our state could decide to turn their backs on Mississippi just as the Governor and State Legislature have turned their backs on our own citizens and neighbors. Much needed federal funding for things like transportation, infrastructure  and agriculture might be jeopardized now that this ill-advised and, indeed, discriminatory bill has been signed into law in Mississippi.”

Human Rights Campaign

National corporations and businesses have spoken out against the horrific measure that would allow individuals, religious organizations and private associations to use religion to discriminate against LGBT Mississippians in some of the most important aspects of their lives, including at work, at schools, and in their communities. Following Kansas and North Carolina, Mississippi becomes the third state this legislative session to sign into law an explicitly anti-LGBT bill.

Some of the state’s largest employers, including Nissan Group of North America, Tyson Food Inc, MGM Resorts International and Toyota publicly voiced their opposition to the legislation, joining national corporations such as AT&T, IBM, Levi Strauss & Co, MassMutual, General Electric and Hyatt Hotel Corporations.

In a statement yesterday, Jay C. Moon, president and CEO of the Mississippi Manufacturers Association (MMA) called for Bryant to veto the measure saying: “It is clear that many of our members find that HB 1523 would violate their corporate policies expressly providing for an inclusive workplace environment that supports diversity. This is not a bill that the MMA supports and we hope that it will not find its way into law.”

Jackson Mayor Tony T. Yarber

“As a predominantly black city in Mississippi, the Jackson community has endured racism, discrimination and injustice over the years. We are Mississippi’s capital city, and as part of our declaration of being the ‘Bold New City,’ we will not discriminate against any individual because of race, religious beliefs or sexual orientation, nor do we support legislation that allows for such discrimination.”

Lambda Legal

“Many thought after the massive blowback from the public, business leaders and even professional sports teams that top officials of Indiana, Georgia, Arizona and North Carolina all experienced after they passed similarly discriminatory anti-LGBT bills that Mississippi would have chosen to think twice. Sadly, Mississippi legislators and Gov. Bryant have ignored the voices of reason and responsibility and have exposed many already terribly vulnerable in the state to yet more discrimination, abuse and violence. We sincerely hope that, in Mississippi as elsewhere, business, civic, community and faith leaders will unite against this blatant invitation to discriminate and encourage Mississippi’s better angels to resist abuse of others in the cloak of piety.”

ACLU of Mississippi

While no other state has passed a law like this, Mississippi also has the dubious distinction of being the first state to codify discrimination based on a religious belief or moral conviction that members of the LGBTQ community do not matter.

Jennifer Riley-Collins, executive director of the American Civil Liberties Union of Mississippi, had the following reaction:

“This is a sad day for the state of Mississippi and for the thousands of Mississippians who can now be turned away from businesses, refused marriage licenses, denied housing, essential services and needed care based on who they are. This bill flies in the face of the basic American principles of fairness, justice and equality and will not protect anyone’s religious liberty. Far from protecting anyone from ‘government discrimination’ as the bill claims, it is an attack on the citizens of our state and it will serve as the Magnolia State’s badge of shame.”

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