JACKSON, Miss. (AP) — Protesters say a bill in Mississippi would sanction discrimination by letting public employees cite their own religious beliefs to refuse to issue marriage licenses or perform weddings for same-sex couples.
Mississippi is one of about 10 states where such bills were filed in response to the U.S. Supreme ruling last summer legalizing same-sex marriage nationwide.
The Mississippi Senate has a Wednesday deadline to consider House Bill 1523. A few dozen people protested the bill Tuesday at the Capitol.
The bill says public employees, business people and those involved with foster care or adoptions could not be punished for acting on beliefs that marriage should only be between a man and a woman; that "sexual relations are properly reserved to such a marriage"; and that gender is determined at birth.
Copyright Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
More like this story
- GOP's Social, Fiscal Conservatives at Odds Over Gay Rights
- Anti-LGBT 'Religious Conscience' Bill Passes Senate with Lt. Gov. Tate Reeves' Blessing
- Mississippi Attorney: Don't Block Religious Objections Law
- Mississippi LGBT Law Withstands 1 Challenge; 3 Others Await
- Mississippi Leaders Divided on Religious-Beliefs Law Appeal
Support our reporting -- Follow the MFP.
Comments
Use the comment form below to begin a discussion about this content.
comments powered by Disqus