Mississippi Republican Governor Phil Bryant

Mississippi Republican Governor Phil Bryant

Mississippi Gov. Phil Bryant has signed a controversial “religious freedom” bill into law.

The legislation, HB 1523, promises that the state government will not punish people who refuse to provide services to people because of a religious opposition to same-sex marriage, extramarital sex or transgender people.

Supporters say it protects the rights of people who are opposed to homosexuality but who now live in a country where same-sex marriage is a legal right.

Opponents say the law amounts to a state sanction for open discrimination.

In a statement on Twitter, Bryant said he signed the bill into law “to protect sincerely held religious beliefs and moral convictions … from discriminatory action by state government.”

He said the new law “merely reinforces” existing religious […]

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