Mississippi's "turn away the gays" law, which was passed by lawmakers and signed by GOP Governor Phil Bryant in April, took effect last week on July 1.
The new law creates a special "right" for people and businesses to discriminate against LGBT people and other minority groups, as long as they claim they're doing so for religious reasons. As I reported back in spring, the law will have the likely effect of undermining or even blocking future efforts to pass local LGBT-inclusive nondiscrimination statutes, as it specifically covers "any municipal or county ordinances, rules or regulations and the implementation of those laws," regardless of whether they were enacted before or after the law's enactment.
It could also allow pharmacists to refuse to dispense HIV medication, contraception, or hormone replacement therapy; permit businesses like restaurants, hotels, bakeries, photographers, reception halls, and formalwear stores to turn away same-sex couples; and undercut nondiscrimination policies at public universities.
Mississippi's 'Turn Away the Gays' Law Now in Effect | The Bilerico Project
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