PORTLAND, Maine (AP) — Maine Republican Gov. Paul LePage is backing Mississippi’s appeal to reinstate a law letting merchants and government employees cite religious beliefs to deny services to same-sex couples.

The “religious objections” law was struck down in July.

Eight states are backing Mississippi’s appeal. The Portland Press Herald reports that LePage is listed, as an individual, in the “friend of the court” brief filed by those states.

Maine voters added protections for gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender people to the state’s Civil Rights Act in 2005. And Maine voters legalized same-sex marriage in 2012.

In May, LePage, again as an individual, joined officials from 10 other states in suing over a federal directive that public schools should let transgender students use bathrooms or locker rooms that match their gender identity.

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