Mississippi Governor Phil Bryant signed HB 1523 into law Tuesday morning. By the evening, the city council of the state capital had approved a resolution condemning it.
According the Jackson Free Press, the Jackson City Council passed a resolution opposing HB 1523, a bill that sanctions discrimination based on religious belief. The resolution states that "the City of Jackson believes in the essential worth and dignity of every human being, promotes fair and impartial treatment of all citizens, and encourages kindness, compassion, understanding and cooperation among all people... [the city] does not sanction or tolerate discrimination against its citizens or visitors and seeks to preserve and protect the rights of all individuals regardless of religion or identity."
Other cities have also registered their frustration with the bill.
"Very, very disappointing, a tremendous step backwards for the state of Mississippi," said Ocean Springs Mayor Connie Moran, according to WLOX.
Biloxi Mayor FoFo Gilich shared similar sentiments: "We do not discriminate. Period." Gilich has drafted a resolution opposing the bill that he expects the city council will take up in the coming weeks.
As we have seen with legislation of this nature, from last year's Indiana RFRA fiasco to the furor over North Carolina's most recent discriminatory measures, businesses and local governments are likely to keep voicing their opposition.
As Todd Stauffer of the Jackson Free Press noted, "Bryant's decision is wrong. It's bad for people, and it's bad for business."