Mississippi
Governor signs law allowing businesses to refuse service to gay people.
This is the most asinine thing that I’ve ever
heard in my life besides the talk of Donald Trump building a wall. I can honestly say that this makes me ashamed
to say that I live in Mississippi. Mississippi’s governor Phil Bryant (R)
signed into law a bill that allows businesses to refuse services to gay couples
based on religious objections, ignoring opposition from businesses who had
worried the legislation could cost the state economic opportunities in the
future. How ridiculous does that sound. He is basically giving both public and
private businesses the ability to openly discriminate against the LGBT. How can
you tell someone that they can’t enter your place of business because of their gender
or life style? To me that is flat out discriminations. What’s next no
wheelchair aloud or no crying babies aloud in a business. He states that he is
doing this to protect the business who doesn’t believe in lesbian or gay relationships.
I think these are bitter people that say the bible says this and the bible says
that. Many of them still believe that marriage is only meant for heterosexual
couples, or that homosexuality itself is a sin. They are stuck in their ways
and are afraid to accept change. The new law states that it protects “sincerely
held religious beliefs or moral convictions,” including the belief that
marriage is only between a man and a woman and that sexual relations should
only occur in such a marriage. It also says that a person’s gender is
“determined by anatomy and genetics at time of birth” and goes on to say those
businesses can determine who is allowed to access bathrooms, dressing rooms and
locker rooms. My take on that is when someone goes to the rest room and closes
the stall door no one can tell what that person’s gender is. I guess you’re
going to have to answer a questionnaire and show I.D. before you can use a public restroom in a
business. That law gives organizations and businesses the right to refuse to do
business with people because of gender preference or fire a person or deny them
a job due to their sexuality. This ignorance could go as far as denying them
necessary medical procedures if they choose too and couldn’t anything be done
about it. Although there were many
groups that called for the bill to be vetoed it wasn’t very successful. They
argued that the legislation allowed for state-sanctioned discrimination.
Lawmakers and others who supported the bill echoed Bryant in saying that the
bill only protects the rights of people with religious beliefs. I can honestly
say that this is an embarrassment to state of Mississippi. Thousands of
Mississippians will now be turned away from businesses, refused marriage
licenses, or denied housing, essential services and needed care based on who
they are. Before the bill was signed by the governor, the state’s lieutenant
governor, Tate Reeves, said it was needed after the Supreme Court ruled last
year that gay couples have a right to marriage. Many Mississippians, including
pastors, wanted protection to exercise their religious liberties. And what
makes it so bad these people are protected and can’t be penalized for it. The
“Protecting Freedom of Conscience from Government Discrimination Act” signed by
Bryant protects people who refuse to
provide goods, services or facilities for a gay wedding due to religious or
moral objections. The law also says that they have the right to refuse to marry
someone due to their religious belief. That’s sad. I hope people don’t think that all
Mississippians feel that way, because we don’t. I feel that we all should have
the same rights no matter what their sexual preferences are. Due to that law Mississippi has lost and will
lose a lot of business that probably could have generated a lot of money is the
state. A lot of big named celebrities have canceled their events or shows in
Mississippi and I don’t blame them. Tracy Morgan was one of them. He
stated “"He very much looks forward
to rescheduling his tour dates in the area after the 'Protecting Freedom of
Conscience from Government Discrimination Act' is either repealed or heavily
amended." Bryan Adams an Canadian singer also canceled his show. He wrote
on his website that he find it incomprehensible that LGBT citizens are being
discriminated against in the state of Mississippi, and he cannot in good
conscience perform in a state where certain people are being denied their civil
rights due to their sexual orientation. I hope the government or whom ever see
how this law if affecting our state and someone will step up to the plate and
do something about it.
