Mississippi passes most anti-LGBT bill to date

[gollygee]

http://secondnexus.com/politics-and-economics/mississippi-religious-freedom-bill/

Wednesday evening, the Mississippi Senate approved a sweeping anti-LGBT religious freedom measure. Republican lawmakers hold a majority in both chambers; they believe the bill addresses issues created for people of faith by the Supreme Court’s 2015 marriage equality ruling.

House Bill 1523, or the “Protecting Freedom of Conscience from Government Discrimination Act,” allows individuals, businesses and government employees (including counseling services, foster care and adoption services), nonprofits and other entities to refuse goods and services to LGBT people and anyone who has had extramarital sex on religious grounds. The bill also defines “male” and “female” as someone’s “immutable biological sex as objectively determined by anatomy and genetics at time of birth,” protecting those who decline treatments, surgeries and counseling related to sex reassignment or gender and identity transitioning. HB 1523 prohibits the government from taking action against individuals and faith-based institutions who act according to their “religious convictions.”

GOP Sen. Jenifer Branning introduced the bill, but says it does not allow for any discrimination. “As a matter of fact, it’s quite the opposite,” Branning said. “It’s about protecting the religious freedom of those who don’t feel they can with a clean conscience assist a same-sex couple.”

Human Rights Campaign (HRC) President Chad Griffin criticized the legislation. “This legislation moves Mississippi backward, undermining equality for its residents and jeopardizing its ability to attract and retain fair-minded businesses,” Griffin said. “Governor Byrant should be paying close attention to the backlash against discrimination in Georgia, where Gov. Nathan Deal vetoed a terrible anti-LGBT bill, and in North Carolina, where fair-minded people and the broader business community are calling on state leaders to repudiate and repeal the discriminatory law passed last week. Mississippi’s economy and its reputation hang in the balance.”

[gordianot]

1. Republicans have a third world agenda.

If the shoe fits wear it in the race to the bottom. Some people never seem to grasp history.

[unc70]

2. What can NC do?

We thought we were finally worse than Mississippi, but our victory was fleeting.

[Bluenorthwest]

3. The Senate voted 31-17 to approve House Bill 1523. There are 20 Democrats meaning 3 did not vote.

In NC, 5 Democrats voted for their anti LGBT bill, not sure about Georgia. The last few weeks on DU many persons have been very stridently promoting the idea that the South is not more conservative than other regions but this trio of laws being made in States that already have no protections from discrimination for LGBT makes those 'I love the Establishment, don't say they are conservative' posters look like fairly crappy allies.

[sarcasmo]

4. Kick

[gollygee]

5. Kick

Didn't think this would sink.

[Solly Mack]

6. ...