Federal Judge: Mississippi Clerks Can’t Deny Marriage Licenses To Gay Couples

The ruling means the state can't enforce part of its anti-LGBT House Bill 1523.
From: NewNowNext

Mississippi clerks cannot cite their own religious beliefs as a reason to deny marriage licenses to same-sex couples, under a ruling from a federal judge on Monday.

The decision means the state can’t enforce part of HB 1523, a religious freedom bill that has been considered one of the worst to be recently passed in the United States, which was set to become law this Friday.

Instead, U.S. District Judge Carlton Reeves is saying clerks must provide equal treatment for all couples, regardless of their sexual orientation.

Reeves is expected to rule in two other lawsuits that are attempting to block the rest of HB 1523, including decisions that could affect school bathroom policies for transgender students.

Republican Lt. Gov. Tate Reeves spoke out against the judge’s ruling.

“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,” Lt. Gov. Reeves said in a statement. “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.”