Major Victory For The LGBT Community In Mississippi

A federal judge in Mississippi has ruled that their license clerks can’t use their religious beliefs to deny a same-sex couple a marriage license.

U.S. District Judge Carlton Reeves’ ruling will keep the state from being able to enforce a religious objections bill that was supposed to become law. The House Bill 1523 was filed in response to the same-sex marriage ruling last year.

lgbt community
Image via YouTube screengrab.

This bill also includes provisions that could affect transgender students and bathrooms. Reeves hasn’t ruled on the other lawsuits surrounding this law.

Reeves wrote in his ruling on Monday:

“Mississippi’s elected officials may disagree with Obergefell, of course, and may express that disagreement as they see fit — by advocating for a constitutional amendment to overturn the decision, for example. But the marriage license issue will not be adjudicated anew after every legislative session.”

Reeves also wrote:

“If this opinion by the federal court denies even one Mississippian of their fundamental right to practice their religion, then all Mississippians are denied their 1st Amendment rights. I hope the state’s attorneys will quickly appeal this decision to the 5th Circuit to protect the deeply held religious beliefs of all Mississippians.”

The bill, which would’ve gone into effect July 1, said:

“The sincerely held religious beliefs or moral convictions protected by this act are the belief or conviction that:

(a) Marriage is or should be recognized as the union of one man and one woman;

(b) Sexual relations are properly reserved to such a marriage; and

(c) Male (man) or female (woman) refer to an individual’s immutable biological sex as objectively determined by anatomy and genetics at time of birth.”

The law also had some anti-transgender measures, including people with religious beliefs should have:

“…Sex-specific standards or policies concerning employee or student dress or grooming, or concerning access to restrooms, spas, baths, showers, dressing rooms, locker rooms, or other intimate facilities or settings.”

Hopefully, these ridiculously bigoted bills will all be struck down.

Hi, I'm from Huntsville, AL. I'm a Liberal living in the Bible Belt, which can be quite challenging at times. I'm passionate about many issues including mental health, women's rights, gay rights, and many others. Check out my blog weneedtotalkaboutmentalhealth.com