Miss. governor signs religious practices bill

[Omaha Steve]

Source: AP-Excite

By EMILY WAGSTER PETTUS

JACKSON, Miss. (AP) - Mississippi Gov. Phil Bryant signed a bill Thursday that supporters say will assure unfettered practice of religion without government interference but that opponents worry could lead to state-sanctioned discrimination against gays and lesbians.

The bill, called the Mississippi Religious Freedom Restoration Act, will become law July 1. It also will add "In God We Trust" to the state seal.

An early version of the bill, considered weeks ago, was similar to one Arizona's Republican governor, Jan Brewer, vetoed after business groups said it could hurt that state's economy. Supporters say the final Mississippi bill bears little resemblance to the failed Arizona measure.

Outside the state Capitol on Thursday, more than 75 gay-rights supporters protested against the bill. Jeff White of Waveland, a founder of the Mississippi Gulf Coast Lesbian and Gay Community Center, said as someone who is gay and Jewish, he worries such a new law could make him more vulnerable to unfair treatment.

FULL story at link.


Read more: http://apnews.excite.com/article/20140403/DACUUCU80.html

[n2doc]

1. Boycott. All. Things. Mississippi. n/t

[lunasun]

3. would not step a toe in there even before this bill

just too dangerous

[AAO]

7. Never been never will n/t

[Ken Burch]

15. Are there any Mississippi-made goods out there TO boycott?

I can see not traveling there(most people weren't planning to), but are there actually well-known products from that state that anybody from anywhere else would buy?

If so, somebody please post below and list them.

[PumpkinAle]

2. Narrow minded cretins n/t

[al_liberal]

4. This is actually welcome news.

Because this law will most likely be shot down immediately by any court.

If it isn't and gets taken to the SCOTUS that's fine too. We'll then see if religion, like money, is inviolate. A ruling affirming as much would mean the end of the US since any and all "religious" groups will claim "freedom" to discriminate.

Keep in mind John Roberts is a toady of money, not ideals.

[Scairp]

5. Goddamned but they are stupid

I mean, were there one, I would beg this god they believe in to imbue some sense on these fools. I guess they never heard of the 1st Amendment of the Constitution of the United States, which, unless I'm really very mistaken, protects misguided backward ass bumpkins in the practice of their "religions".

[icymist]

6. The stupid. It hurts.

[NBachers]

8. How about a bill to allow unfettered practice of government without any religious interference?

[Tx4obama]

9. Check this out -----> Mississippi just legalized same sex marriage with SB2681

Mississippi just legalized same sex marriage with SB2681

Here: http://www.democraticunderground.com/10024777518

[William769]

10. Mississippi has a Constitutional Amendment banning same sex marriages.

Unfortunately The Mississippi Constitution Is a higher authority than the law just passed. So that won't fly.

[blkmusclmachine]

11. It's not called "Sharia Law" when the bible thumpers do it.

[SoapBox]

12. Creepy.

Thank goodness...I do not have to step foot in that state, anymore!

[Glorfindel]

13. Doesn't matter. It's Mississippi, after all.

When everything is illegal, nothing is enforced. "You will never find a more wretched hive of scum and villainy."

[Ken Burch]

16. Phil Ochs had them pegged years ago:

(For the benefit of younger listeners, I'm posting the Wyclef Jean version...he changes the tune, but it's still great that he covers this)

#t=20

Of course, some days, the state lines of "Ole Miss" run from sea to shining sea.

[yuiyoshida]

14. Someday?

Glad I am in California.

[SansACause]

17. Jobs! Jobs! Jobs!

Gone! Gone! Gone!

[theHandpuppet]

18. Three cheers for American theocracy!

[SeattleVet]

19. So, does this apply to *all* religions...

or just the Jesus-based ones? (I know - there is only one true religion, and that is obviously the one that the author of this thing believes in.)

Remember how that Louisiana representative's head exploded when she found out that their 'religious school' law made it easier for Muslims to open schools? I can see the same thing happening when the 'unintended consequences' on this one start coming to the surface.