Mississippi Governor Phil Bryant has signed the discriminatory HB 1523 into law, a bill that has been dubbed as the worst religious freedom bill to date in the United States.
Bryant announced on Twitter that he would sign the bill.
I have signed House Bill 1523. Full statement: pic.twitter.com/00DbgQADFt
— Phil Bryant (@PhilBryantMS) April 5, 2016
Bryant had not previously said whether he would sign the bill after the legislature approved it, thought many observers of Mississippi politics speculated that he would.
The bill prevents state and local government agencies from taking action against state employees, individuals, organizations and private associations that deny service based on religious beliefs.
It does not prevent civil lawsuits based on claims of discrimination.
The measure's intention is to protect those who believe that marriage should be between one man and one woman, that sexual relations should only take place inside such marriages, and that male and female genders are unchangeable.
Proponents say the legislation is an answer to states that have fined or taken business permits from companies that deny services such as event rentals and bakery services to same-sex couples.
Circuit clerks who do not want to give a wedding license to a same-sex couple could hand over those duties to a deputy clerk.
Opponents say the state is sanctioning discrimination.
As previously noted, the bill is considered to be the first of its kind as it combines the most hateful elements of ‘religious freedom' bills with those of ‘first amendment defense acts.'
The ACLU has already denounced Bryant's decision, saying in a statement,
“This is a sad day for the state of Mississippi and for the thousands of Mississippians who can now be turned away from businesses, refused marriage licenses, or denied housing, essential services and needed care based on who they are. This bill flies in the face of the basic American principles of fairness, justice and equality and will not protect anyone's religious liberty. Far from protecting anyone from ‘government discrimination' as the bill claims, it is an attack on the citizens of our state, and it will serve as the Magnolia State's badge of shame.”
HRC President Chad Griffin has denounced Bryant for signing the bill.
.@PhilBryantMS adds his name to list of disgraced Southern governors by signing #HB1523. His ignorance will only hurt Mississippians.
— Chad Griffin (@ChadHGriffin) April 5, 2016
.@PhilBryantMS refused to meet with LGBT people & listen to business leaders. Now his state will suffer because of his failure of leadership
— Chad Griffin (@ChadHGriffin) April 5, 2016
UPDATE. DNC Chair Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz has issued the following statement on HB 1523:
“It's embarrassing, shameful, and truly perplexing that the Republicans still don't get it. LGBT Americans are entitled to equal protection under the law, just as everyone else. No exceptions. No allowances for discrimination. That we're even still debating this in 2016 boggles the mind.
“‘Right to Discriminate' measures signed into law by Republican governors are proof that the Republican Party's leaders are stuck in the dark ages when it comes to equality and that they've been on a divisive path toward destruction since long before Donald Trump ran for president. In fact, the Republican National Committee has passed resolutions calling on state legislatures to pass discriminatory ‘bathroom bills' targeted at LGBT youth and calling on Congress to pass a national ‘Right to Discriminate' law that they cynically call the First Amendment Defense Act.
“No American should be discriminated against because of their sexual orientation or gender identity. That's not very complicated, and that's not who we are as Americans. It's long past time for the Republicans to get the message.”
