Mississippi signs law allowing businesses to deny services to gays

Mississippi being Mississippi…

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As if the history of racism was not enough, this time the governor of the US state of Mississippi, Phil Bryant, signed a law this Tuesday(5), which allows public and private companies to refuse services to gay couples based on the religious beliefs of its employees.

 

Bryant signed the law despite opposition from advocacy groups. homosexual rights and some businesspeople who said that this allows discrimination. Some conservative and religious groups support the law.

 

The intention of the measure would be to protect those who believe that marriage should be between a man and a woman, that sexual relations should only occur in such relationships, and that male and female sexes are unalterable.

 

"This law only reinforces the rights that already exist to exercise religious freedom, as indicated in the First Amendment of the US Constitution," the Republican governor said on his Twitter account.

 

The law allows churches, religious charitable groups and private businesses to deny services to people whose lifestyle violates their beliefs. Government employees can also refuse, although the measure says the government still has to provide the services.

 

"This law does not limit any constitutionally protected rights or actions of any citizen of this State under state or federal laws," Bryant said. "The intent is not to alter federal laws, even those that conflict with the Mississippi Constitution, as the legislature recognizes the prominence of federal laws in such limited circumstances.

 

"This law goes against basic American principles of equality and justice and will not protect anyone's religious freedom," Jennifer Riley-Collins, executive director of the Mississippi Civil Liberties Union, said in a statement. "Far from protecting anyone from 'government discrimination,' as the law says, this is an attack on the citizens of our state, and will serve as a badge of shame for the Magnolia State," she added.

Source: Associated Press.