ACLU Challenges HB 1523

The American Civil Liberties Union and the ACLU of Mississippi filed a federal lawsuit today to challenge House Bill 1523, also known as the Religious Accommodations Act.
The lawsuit targets the registrar of vital records and was filed on behalf of a gay couple in Mississippi who are engaged to be married and who say they face discrimination as a result of this law. The ACLU is arguing the law challenges the Supreme Court’s decision legalizing gay marriage, saying this law treats the marriages of same-sex couples differently than the marriages of everyone else.
House Bill 1523 allows businesses to refuse service to gay and transgender people based on their religious beliefs. Oliver Diaz, attorney for ACLU, said, “I was offended to sit and watch as the Mississippi Legislature passed a bill and the governor of the state of Mississippi passed a bill instituting state sponsored discrimination once again in Mississippi. We’ve had a long history in Mississippi of bigotry and discrimination and House Bill 1523 brings that back to life.”
Mississippi Governor Phil Bryant is criticizing the ACLU for filing the lawsuit. He says the ACLU is using the federal court system to push its liberal agenda.