Dustin Barnes

The Clarion-Ledger

Waveland became the seventh Mississippi city to approve a resolution recognizing the dignity and worth of its LGBT residents, a move that started with Starkville in January.

Other cities that have approved similar resolutions - which are non-binding measures - include Hattiesburg, Oxford, Magnolia, Bay St. Louis and Greenville.

Waveland's mayor said the move - which was approved unanimously Wednesday night - is one to let all residents and visitors know the city is welcoming to all.

"The approved action is important for the people of Waveland. This sends a strong message throughout Mississippi that LGBT citizens are welcome in our fantastic city," said Mayor David Garcia. "We are proving to the country that our city is on the right side of history."

The wave of resolutions in the state have highlighted a shifting local opinion of LGBT issues, pointed out the Human Rights Campaign, the nation's largest LGBT advocacy group.

HRC announced last month that Mississippi was one of three states in which the group will focus on these issues as part of a three-year campaign called Project One America. The organization is establishing a physical office in Mississippi to help push for LGBT-related legislation and policy changes.

Those changes include a push for non-discrimination protections for LGBT employees, which an HRC poll said 64 percent of Mississippians support. Currently, the state doesn't have any laws on the books to ban discrimination based on sexual orientation.