U.S. Supreme Court Leaves Intact Mississippi Law Curbing Gay Rights

[Swordsmyth]

The U.S. Supreme Court left intact a Mississippi law that lets businesses and government workers refuse on religious grounds to provide services to gay and transgender people.
The justices turned away two appeals by state residents and organizations that contended the measure violates the Constitution. A federal appeals court said the opponents hadn’t suffered any injury that would let them press their claims in court.

The state enacted its law less than a year after the 2015 Supreme Court ruling that legalized same-sex marriage nationwide.
The measure says religious people can’t be sued or penalized by the government for declining to provide services for same-sex marriage ceremonies. The law also protects people who believe gender is an immutable characteristic or who object to sex out of wedlock.

Critics say the law lets government clerks refuse to issue same-sex marriage licenses and lets adoption and foster-care organizations decline to place children with LGBT families. The measure also wiped out protections that cities including Jackson, the state’s most populous, had previously afforded to gay and transgender residents.

More at: https://finance.yahoo.com/news/u-sup...143335424.html

[spudea]

This is a tricky law. The first section outlines and appears to establish state sanctioned religious beliefs that are to be protected, which should obviously be in conflict with the first amendment. However the body of the law only describes the government should not have the power to punish people exercising these beliefs which I'm all for government not having power to punish people. Without this law, is the opposite scenario true? The state would punish people to adhere to the LGBT activist beliefs?

Bill text: http://billstatus.ls.state.ms.us/doc...9/HB1523SG.pdf

[Swordsmyth]

This is a tricky law. The first section outlines and appears to establish state sanctioned religious beliefs that are to be protected, which should obviously be in conflict with the first amendment. However the body of the law only describes the government should not have the power to punish people exercising these beliefs which I'm all for government not having power to punish people. Without this law, is the opposite scenario true? The state would punish people to adhere to the LGBT activist beliefs?

Bill text: http://billstatus.ls.state.ms.us/doc...9/HB1523SG.pdf

Saying that you can't punish people for having certain beliefs is NOT establishing a religion.

[Brian4Liberty]

The U.S. Supreme Court left intact a Mississippi law that lets businesses and government workers refuse on religious grounds to provide services to gay and transgender people.

The justices turned away two appeals by state residents and organizations that contended the measure violates the Constitution. A federal appeals court said the opponents hadn’t suffered any injury that would let them press their claims in court.

Seems like a bit of spin. Doesn't the Supreme Court turn away the vast majority of cases that are brought to them? "Left intact" implies they actively did something.

[Origanalist]

Does it curb gay rights or merely not trample on the rights of others who don't 'celebrate' gayness?

[Wooden Indian]

Does it curb gay rights or merely not trample on the rights of others who don't 'celebrate' gayness?

OMG you must be one of those racist homophobes!

It will likely kill BILLIONS of gay babies (gabies?), minorities, and even the brave and oppressed womenz of the state!

How dare you ask this question you cis hetero white male privileged Neanderthal!

[shakey1]