April 4 — On the evening of Wednesday, March 30, the Mississippi Senate voted to pass the so-called “Protecting Freedom of Conscience From Government Discrimination Act” or “the Religious Liberty Bill.” The state House on Friday, April 1, followed suit and passed HB 1523. However, the bill was delayed by Mississippi Democrats and will face another vote today. The bill is expected to pass, before being sent to Gov. Phil Bryant for his signature. Bryant has said he will sign it. This fast track to bigotry against the LGBTQ community is being cloaked under the lofty pretense of “freedom of religion.” The heinous law would allow businesses, public employees, organizations and individuals to legally deny LGBTQ people in Mississippi the right to marry, adopt children and have access to housing, jobs and services. Blatant discrimination would be legal if the existence of lesbian, gay, bisexual, trans* and queer people was perceived to violate religious beliefs that marriage is only between a man and a woman and that gender is determined at birth. The Clarion Ledger in Jackson, Miss., further laid out the provisions of the sweeping law on April 1, saying it would: “Prohibit the government from taking any action . . .
Continue reading Mississippi poised to enact anti-LGBT*Q law at Workers.org