JACKSON – Protests quieted after the signing of House Bill 1523 Tuesday, but the conversation is far from over.
House Bill 1523, named Protecting Freedom of Conscience from Government Discrimination Act, made national news as what Ben Needham, director of Southern LGBT advocacy group Project One America, called “probably the worst religious freedom bill to date.”
Others, however, have hailed the legislation as a needed reform.
When he released his statement Tuesday, Gov. Phil Bryant said the bill, “reinforces the rights which currently exist to exercise the religious freedom as stated in the First Amendment to the U.S. Constitution.”
Republican Rep. Randy Boyd. who co-authored House Bill 1523, said it does not discriminate against any group of people. Boyd said much of the pushback surrounding the bill is unwarranted.
Republican Rep. Randy Boyd helped co-author House Bill 1523. (Photo by: Cady Herring)
“It’s important to protect the Christian rights that we have,” Boyd said. “Our constitution guarantees freedom of religion. This is not a discriminatory bill against the LGBTQ community like they want to portray it.”
Boyd said many of those who oppose the bill were only doing so because, “they want to get their name out in front of the media.”
Boyd said this bill protects religious rights as they pertain to marriage.
“You take this same bill and say there is a Muslim in the state of Mississippi, they would have the same rights,” Boyd said. “Muslims are more strict than Christians are on [homosexuality].”
One of the most prominent defenses of this bill – a defense Boyd employed – is its protection of religious rights. However, Democrat Rep. Rufus Straughter said he disagrees.
“People use religion as a way to hide behind old ideas,” Straughter said. “I think if you’re a Christian, you’re a Christian. There are a lot of things my Bible tells me that make me want to do unto others as I would have them do unto me.”
Democrat Rep. of District 41 Kabir Karriem voted against the bill and said he still opposes it.
Democrat Rep. Kabir Karriem voted against House Bill 1523. (Photo by: Cady Herring)
“Anytime there is any legislation that is going to discriminate against a segment of people, I just cannot go along with it,” Karriem said. “It puts Mississippi in a very bad light. Knowing the history of Mississippi, where it came from and where we’re going, this piece of legislation turns the clock back 50 years. It’s an unfortunate situation and an unfortunate piece of legislation that we’ve produced here in the House.”
Karriem said the legislation could be detrimental to businesses statewide.
“I’m really afraid what effect it is going to have on the industry and businesses in the state,” Karriem said. “When you have other states banning travel here, to Mississippi, because of this legislation, it’s not a good look for Mississippi. I don’t know what the future may hold.”
Boyd said he isn’t worried about Mississippi losing business, however.
“Some of these folks that say they’re not going to travel to our state because of it, they’re going to miss something,” Boyd said. “Everybody knows about Mississippi’s hospitality.”
