Plaintiffs: Mississippi law 'unconstitutional religious gerrymander'
Blocked law lets businesses, government employees deny service to same-sex couples
Mississippi religious freedom law blocked SOURCE: AP/Rogelio V. Solis
Updated: 12:15 PM EST Dec 16, 2016
Emily Wagster Pettus, The Associated Press
JACKSON, Miss. Gay rights groups and others are asking a federal appeals court to keep blocking a Mississippi law that would let merchants and government employees cite religious beliefs to deny services to same-sex couples.
U.S. District Judge Carlton Reeves halted the law before it could take effect July 1, ruling it unconstitutionally establishes preferred beliefs and creates unequal treatment for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people.
The law championed and signed by Republican Gov. Phil Bryant sought to protect three beliefs: marriage is only between a man and a woman; sex should only take place in such a marriage; and a person's gender is determined at birth and cannot be altered.
Bryant filed papers in late October asking the 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals to lift the hold to let the law take effect.
http://www.wyff4.com/article/plaintiffs-mississippi-law-unconstitutional-religious-gerrymander/8507815