Mississippi’s anti-LGBTQ law to take effect following circuit court decision
In a disappointing setback to LGBTQ Mississippians, the 5th Circuit Court of Appeals has declined to rehear a case challenging the wide-ranging anti-LGBTQ bill in the state of Mississippi.
Mississippi HB 1523 grants a license to discriminate against LGBTQ residents and places children in danger.
Mississippi HB 1523 includes protections for three religious beliefs:
- Marriage should be recognized as a union between one man and one woman;
- sexual relations are reserved for those marriages; and
- a person’s gender refers to his or her biological sex assigned at birth.
The sweeping bill authorizes Mississippi officials and service providers, such as doctors and store owners — and, unfortunately for children, child welfare agencies including foster and adoption service providers — to recuse themselves from serving LGBTQ individuals and families on the basis of these beliefs.
