Mississippi religious objections bill heads to governor - Entrepreneur Generations

The Republican-led Mississippi House on Friday voted to send a bill to Republican Gov. Phil Bryant "that proponents say protects religious freedom but opponents say sanctions discrimination against gay people and others," Geoff Pender reports for The Clarion-Ledger. "House Bill 1523, authored by Speaker Philip Gunn (R-Clinton) would allow business and government workers to deny services based on religious beliefs. Ten states have passed or are considering bills in response to last year's U.S. Supreme Court decision legalizing gay marriage nationwide. North Carolina's governor and Legislature recently approved a similar law. In Georgia, Republican Gov. Nathan Deal on Monday vetoed one passed by the Legislature after protests from businesses."

Bryant has not said whether he will sign the bill, which "would allow clerks to deny marriage licenses to gay couples because of their religious beliefs and not face any repercussions," Pender writes. "It would also allow private businesses and faith-based organizations to refuse services based on those same beliefs without retribution." Republican lawmakers, who pointed to a poll that said two-thirds of Mississippians agree with the bill, say the bill is anti-discrimination, but Democratic leaders disagree, saying it legalizes discrimination.


from The Rural Blog http://ift.tt/1TzgNXL Mississippi religious objections bill heads to governor - Entrepreneur Generations

Posted by Entrepreneur Generations

Tweet