In the hours after Mississippi Governor Phil Bryant signed HB 1523 into law, academics, politicians, celebrities, and companies from all walks of life condemned the action, some even calling for travel bans and boycotts.
Mississippi Governor Signs Overly Broad "Religious Liberty" Bill Into Law
Governor Phil Bryant has signed HB 1532, a bill that could allow a range of individuals; corporations; healthcare providers; and nonprofit organizations—including those that receive taxpayer funding to perform social services—to refuse to provide goods and services to same sex couples; single mothers; divorcees; and anyone who has had sex outside of marriage and their families, into law.
Lousy Landlord: RV Park Owner Allegedly Booted Couple Because His Church Opposes Interracial Marriage
In a move that seems straight out of the 1960s, a Mississippi landlord has asked a husband and wife to leave his recreational vehicle (RV) park for no reason other than the fact that they are an interracial couple. And like so many attempts to discriminate in 2016, the owner of the park is relying on an old tactic, reportedly booting the two because his church opposes such marriages.
First Openly Gay NFL Player Michael Sam Opposes Missouri's SJR 39
Former University of Missouri football star and the NFL's first openly gay player Michael Sam has written an op-ed in the Columbia Daily Tribune opposing SJR 39, Missouri's constitutional amendment bill that would sanction discrimination.
Nebraska Foster Care Bill That Would Allow For Discrimination Effectively Dead
Nebraska's LB 975, a bill that would have allowed adoption and foster care agencies in the state, including taxpayer-funded agencies, to refuse to work with families, youth in care, or prospective parents based on the agency’s sincerely held religious beliefs, is effectively dead for this session.
Last Week in Review: March 28 – April 1
St Louis Post-Dispatch Editorial Board Against Missouri Discrimination Bill
The Editorial Board of the St Louis Post-Dispatch has come out against SJR 39, a bill that would enshrine discrimination based on sincerely held religious beliefs in the Missouri constitution. In an editorial published this weekend, the paper urges lawmakers to let the bill die in the legislature.
Mississippi's "Religious Liberty" Bill Passes House, But Is Delayed On Its Way To The Governor
AU Lawyer Discusses Supreme Court Contraception Case With National Constitution Center
Senior Litigation Counsel Greg Lipper took to the airwaves with the National Constitution Center's We The People podcast to discuss Zubik v. Burwell.
Georgia Legislature Will Not Push To Override Governor's Veto Of "Religious Liberty" Bill
It's official: it's over for Georgia's HB 757. House Speaker David Ralston and Lt. Gov. Casey Cagle told The Atlanta Journal-Constitution today that they would not challenge Governor Nathan Deal's veto on the controversial "religious liberty" bill, but that the larger fight is far from over.
Mississippi Senate Passes Sweeping "Religious Liberty" Bill
Mississippi Set To Vote On Discriminatory Bill
Sibling Rivalry: Religious Freedom Puts Economic and Religious Conservatives At Odds
About that Order for Supplemental Briefing in Zubik v. Burwell
Last Week In Review: March 21–25
Because many state legislative sessions have ended (Florida, Georgia, Indiana, Utah, Washington, West Virginia, and Wyoming), we can report that 13 of the so-called religious liberty bills we have been tracking are officially dead. Here is some of the big state legislative news that occurred last week and what we expect to see moving this week.
Louisiana Governor To Rescind Anti-LGBT Executive Order
In the wake of Governor Nathan Deal's veto of HB 757 in Georgia, Governor John Bel Edwards' press secretary has announced that the Louisiana governor will rescind the anti-LGBT executive order issued by Bobby Jindal in 2015.
Transparent Trickery: Claims Of ‘Persecution’ In Idaho Fail To Sway Court
Say You (Don’t) Want A Revolution?: Perkins Proves To Be No Prophet
Georgia Governor Vetoes "Religious Liberty" Bill
In a brief press conference today, Governor Nathan Deal vetoed HB 757, a bill that would have sanctioned discrimination in the name of "religious liberty".