HB 1523 Writes Discrimination Into Law, Is Unconstitutional

Mississippi Gov. Phil Bryant has just signed an extremely anti-LGBT discriminatory bill into law, despite pleadings from business and religious leaders nationwide. The Republican governor said in a statement he did so “to protect sincerely held religious beliefs and moral convictions of individuals, organizations, and private associations from discriminatory action by state government.”

I have signed House Bill 1523. Full statement: pic.twitter.com/00DbgQADFt â€” Phil Bryant (@PhilBryantMS) April 5, 2016

University of Mississippi School of Law ProfessorÂ George CochranÂ last week said the billÂ is “unconstitutional.”Â

For those unfamiliar with just how wide-sweeping the bill is, last week The Clarion-LedgerÂ detailed that HB 1523, also known asÂ the “Protecting Freedom of Conscience from Government Discrimination Act,” would:

prohibit the government from taking any action against religious organizations that decline to provide adoption or foster care services to married same-sex couples.

allow physicians and other medical professionals to deny services related to sex reassignment or “psychological, counseling, or fertility services” based upon their religious beliefs

prohibits government from taking action against employers or school officials who establish “sex-specific rules and policies concerning who may use restrooms, lockers, or dressing rooms.

protect individuals whose sincerely held beliefs include that “sexual relations are properly reserved” to a marriage between a man and a woman, raising questionsÂ about whether single mothers could be targeted

UPDATE I:Â 12:59 PM EDT â€“

Bryant could have vetoed it and been assured there were not enough votes to override his veto. He chose not to.

UPDATE II: 1:01 PM EDT â€“

Some responses via Twitter:Â

Just a shame Mississippi has tarnished its otherwise stellar civil rights record. ðŸ‘€ â€” Jeremy Hooper (@goodasyou) April 5, 2016

Shame on @PhilBryantMS for legislating hate. There is no biblical support for #HB1523. It’s anti-LGBT animus, pure and simple. â€” Eliel Cruz (@elielcruz) April 5, 2016

@PhilBryantMS Shame on u for legalizing bigotry/discrimination.You’ve disgraced ur state.History’s judgment will be merciless. #LGBT #HB1523 â€” John M. Becker (@freedom2marry) April 5, 2016

.@PhilBryantMS adds his name to list of disgraced Southern governors by signing #HB1523. His ignorance will only hurt Mississippians. â€” Chad Griffin (@ChadHGriffin) April 5, 2016

Gov. Bryant signs the most aggressively anti-gay bill in the country into law. Sad day for Mississippi–off to federal court. #msleg #HB1523 â€” Anthony M. Kreis (@AnthonyMKreis) April 5, 2016

Gov. Bryant had several good reasons to veto #HB1523 and nothing to lose. Instead, he legalized discrimination in Mississippi. â€” Sam R. Hall (@samrhall) April 5, 2016

UPDATE III: 1:21 EDT â€“

HRC’s Chad Griffin:

.@PhilBryantMS refused to meet with LGBT people & listen to business leaders. Now his state will suffer because of his failure of leadership â€” Chad Griffin (@ChadHGriffin) April 5, 2016

UPDATE IV: 1:24 PM EDT â€“Â

GLAAD President & CEO Sarah Kate Ellis:Â

“Governor Bryant has put the people and the economy of Mississippi at risk and damaged his state’s reputation by signing this regressive anti-LGBT bill into law. If Gov. Bryant listened to the stories of Mississippians fired from jobs, refused service, and shunned from their families, then perhaps he might have a sense of why bills like HB 1523 devastate LGBT people and their families. But Gov. Bryant’s attack on fairness will not deter us; the LGBT community will not stop demanding equality and full acceptance until everyone in Mississippi can live the life they love.”

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Image: Mississippi Gov. Phil Bryant, viaÂ Facebook