More Video of the Five Lesbian Couples Denied Marriage Licenses in Hattiesburg, Mississippi: WATCH

Yesterday I posted about the five lesbian couples denied marriage licenses in Hattiesburg, Mississippi. Here's some video direct from the "We Do" campaign, as part of the Campaign for Southern Equality, which plans more of these actions across the South over the next month.

Watch, AFTER THE JUMP...

Five Gay Couples Denied Marriage Licenses in Mississippi: VIDEO

Five lesbian couples applied for and were denied marriage licenses in Hattiesburg, Mississippi yesterday as part of a demonstration by the Campaign for Southern Equality's "We Do" campaign.

WDAM reports:

All the couples applied for a marriage license, and were immediately denied. Forrest County Circuit Clerk Lou Ellen Adams explained the rejection.

"As I told the others, you know, this takes an act of the legislature to change this. My oath of office, as circuit clerk , I have to take an oath that I have to up hold the laws of the state of Mississippi, and this law says that I can not issue this license," said Adams.

Five lesbian couples from South Mississippi entered the courthouse knowing their request for a license would be denied. Reverend Jasmine Beach-Ferrara says this peaceful action is a part of the "We Do" Campaign, which calls for full equality under federal law for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people.

"Call for change under federal law, which we believe to be the most appropriate path way for LGBT people in the south to become equal citizens under the law, and for their fundamental right to marry to be recognized which it currently is not," said Ferrara.

Watch, AFTER THE JUMP...

Mississippi Gov: Everyone Should Be Allowed To Marry, Except The Gays

The state of Mississippi found itself facing its past when a predominantly white church, First Baptist Church of Crystal Springs, last month refused to marry an African-American couple.

Gov. Phil Bryant was asked about the scandal this week and said that he believes everyone should be allowed marry, and that the church in question was in the wrong. So, what about same-sex couples, who are forbidden to tie the knot in Mississippi? Well there the answer changes.

From The Mississippi Press:

Bryant said the denial of a wedding for a black couple at a traditionally white church has "tainted" Mississippi's image nationwide.

"I'm sure there are very good people of Crystal Springs and in that Baptist church that don't feel that way and are supporting that effort," Bryant said of the Wilsons' desire to marry in the church.

"Look, when people want to get married, we ought to let them get married," Bryant said. "We have enough people that won't go and get married. I want to make every opportunity I can for any couple that wants to, to go get married."

Even gay couples?

"I wouldn't say gay couples, no," Bryant said. "I'd say a man and a woman. Let me make sure, let's get that right. When I say couples, I automatically assume it's a man and a woman."

His conservative politics are so deeply ingrained that they won't even let his imagination meander into the realm of same-sex love.

Mississippi Gay Couple Fears for Their Lives After Vandalism Hate Crime Attacks: VIDEO

Mike Halterman, the editor of Out on the Town magazine, tips us off to this story about Dustin Tasso and Matt James, a Toomsuba, Mississippi couple who have been targeted in a series of attacks culminating in windows of their car being broken and the word "fags" being spray-painted on the street in front of their house.

WTOK reports:

Someone came to our home, busted our window out of the back of my car," says Tasso, "our home was broken into, profanity was spray painted on the front of our driveway, and you know it's just a scary feeling for us."

"We just felt like there needed to be something done," says James "because it's not just us this stuff happens everyday, and I mean it's not noticed or recognized and there's got to be some kind of justice."

Watch, AFTER THE JUMP...

Lance Bass Talks Growing Up Gay in Mississippi in New Documentary: VIDEO

Lance Bass shares his story of growing up gay in Mississippi, along with those of others, in a new documentary for which he also serves as Executive Producer. He spoke with ABC7 about the documentary, which is showing at Outfest in L.A.:

"These film festivals lead into bigger things, and that's why we do them. We want as many eyeballs as possible on our work. We think it's such a great message," said Bass.

In the film, Bass attends a same-sex prom with some teenagers trying to change the way people see them.

Watch the interview and clips from the film, AFTER THE JUMP...

MS Lawmaker Who Said Gays Spread Disease Tries To Explain Himself

Mississippi state Representative Andy Gipson caused a firestorm last week after posting on Facebook condemnation of President Obama's gay marriage support that ended with Biblical scripture suggesting gay people be put to death.

"If a man has sexual relations with a man as one does with a woman, both of them have done what is detestable. They are to be put to death; their blood will be on their own heads," the scripture, the infamous Leviticus 20:13, reads. The lawmaker also said gay people spread disease.

As the news spread, Gipson, who is also a Baptist minister, tried to do some damage control, but to no avail, and the story soon went national and now Gipson claims he and his family are receiving death threats.

He also released a statement in which he again tries to plead his case:

Since [my posting], a well-known radical liberal blog (The Huffington Post) ran an article falsely claiming that this Facebook post was a call "to kill gay people." Nothing could be further from the truth. I have never publicly or privately called for the killing of any people. I believe all people are created in the image of God and I stand firmly for the sanctity of all human life. All people are entitled to protection of the laws of our nation and state protecting human life.

Any reasonable person who reads the actual post can see that both scripture were cited only for the proposition that same-sex marriage is morally objectionable — sin. I believe this reflects the values of the vast majority of Mississippians and the people of District 77 whom I represent.

That last bit's actually true: a November Public Policy Polling survey found that only 13% of the state's residents support gay marriage; 78% oppose. Mississippi also has the nation's largest population of same-sex couples raising children.

Maybe that familiarity theory of gay rights isn't quite right.