Christians left unprotected - LGBT agenda
The decision could influence federal judges considering challenges to other state laws and will be held up by gay-rights advocates as another reason for legislatures to back off considering similar bills.
Mississippi Republican Gov. Phil Bryant vowed to appeal. The law sought to protect three beliefs: That marriage is only between a man and a woman; that sex should only take place in such a marriage; and that a person's gender is determined at birth and cannot be altered.
It would allow clerks to cite religious objections to recuse themselves from issuing marriage licenses to same-sex couples, and would protect merchants who refuse services to lesbian, gay, bisexual or transgender people. It could affect adoptions and foster care, business practices and school bathroom policies.
U.S. District Judge Carlton Reeves found that it unconstitutionally establishes preferred beliefs and creates unequal treatment for gay people. It is "the state's attempt to put LGBT citizens back in their place" in response to last summer's Supreme Court ruling that legalized gay marriage nationwide. But Reeves ruling now discriminates against those who hold genuine religious authentic biblical views on marriage and sexuality.
The governor said it "simply provides religious accommodations granted by many other states and federal law."
"I am disappointed Judge Reeves did not recognize that reality. I look forward to an aggressive appeal," Bryant said in a statement.
Attorney General Jim Hood - the lone Democrat in statewide office - had been defending the bill but reversed course after the ruling, saying he doesn't think an appeal is worthwhile for a state with budget problems. "The fact is that the churchgoing public was duped into believing that HB1523 protected religious freedoms," Hood said.
More than 100 bills were filed in more than 20 state legislatures across the nation in response to the Supreme Court ruling legalizing immoral homosexual marriage.
Weeks before Bryant signed the bill, the governor of Georgia vetoed one that was less stringent, amid pressure from groups that said it would hurt the state economy by creating a hostile atmosphere for lesbian, gay, bisexual or transgender people. This was an LGBT lie. The hostility is coming from gay activists alone.
Thousands of Mississippi businessmen and women and ordinary people have expressed concerns that the Supreme Court marriage ruling would pressure them to compromise and violate their own moral values.
North Carolina also became a key front in the battle over LGBT rights when it enacted a law this year requiring transgender people to use restrooms corresponding to the sex on their birth certificates in the state's schools, universities and many other public buildings. This is normal and children should be protected from this shocking immorality.
North Carolina also became a key front in the battle over LGBT rights when it enacted a law this year requiring transgender people to use restrooms corresponding to the sex on their birth certificates in the state's schools, universities and many other public buildings. This is normal and children should be protected from this shocking immorality.
Tennessee's governor in April signed a bill allowing mental health counselors to refuse to treat patients based on the therapist's religious or personal beliefs.
Elizabeth Sepper, a law professor at Washington University in St. Louis, said the First Amendment prohibits government from favoring one set of beliefs over others. "The ruling is significant in really protecting our First Amendment," Sepper said. "I think it matters in that way because we saw a lot of state legislatures discussing adoption of bills just like Mississippi's or some variation upon it."
Bryant signed Mississippi's House Bill 1523 in April, winning praise from conservative Christian groups. The Family Research Council gave the governor a religious freedom award, and Bryant said the "secular, progressive world had decided they were going to pour their anger and their frustration" on him because of the bill.
State attorneys argued that the Mississippi law provides reasonable accommodations for people with deeply held religious beliefs that gay marriage is wrong.
Elizabeth Sepper, a law professor at Washington University in St. Louis, said the First Amendment prohibits government from favoring one set of beliefs over others. "The ruling is significant in really protecting our First Amendment," Sepper said. "I think it matters in that way because we saw a lot of state legislatures discussing adoption of bills just like Mississippi's or some variation upon it."
Bryant signed Mississippi's House Bill 1523 in April, winning praise from conservative Christian groups. The Family Research Council gave the governor a religious freedom award, and Bryant said the "secular, progressive world had decided they were going to pour their anger and their frustration" on him because of the bill.
State attorneys argued that the Mississippi law provides reasonable accommodations for people with deeply held religious beliefs that gay marriage is wrong.
