Mississippi's governor is asking a judge to let a state law take effect that would let some businesses and government employees cite religious beliefs to deny or delay services to same-sex couples.

Gov. Phil Bryant filed a notice Thursday, saying he'll ask the 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals to overturn a lower federal court's decision blocked the Mississippi law from taking effect July 1.

In court papers, Bryant's lawyer says U.S. District Judge Carlton Reeves was wrong to block the law and asks Reeves to let the law take effect while the appeal is pending.

Bryant, a Republican, acted on his own without Democratic Mississippi Attorney General Jim Hood, who has expressed ambivalence about appealing.

Reeves ruled the law unconstitutionally establishes preferred beliefs and creates unequal treatment for gay people.