On Wednesday, executives of several corporations in the US urged the state of Mississippi to repeal a new state law that allows business to reject or decline wedding services to same-sex couples on religious grounds.
New York Times reported that the law which was signed by Gov. Phil Bryant of Mississippi grants religious charities, churches, and private businesses to deny services to people if doing so would violate their religious beliefs on gender and marriage. Meanwhile, under pressure from business interests, Gov. Nathan Deal of Georgia vetoed a similar measure passed by the State Legislature two weeks ago.
The bill also permits employers to cite principles of faith in setting workplace policies on grooming, bathroom access, and dress code. The measure was signed into law on Tuesday.
Earlier this week, the American Civil Liberties Union which fights against anti-LGBT laws across the US, including Lambda Legal and Equality North Carolina, filed a lawsuit challenging North Carolina's sweeping anti-LGBT policies. According to Windy City Times, the group is pressuring lawmakers not to wrap the law with bigotry, urging gubernatorial vetoes and demanding repeal as necessary.
Gov. Bryant claimed that the law was designed to protect sincerely held religious beliefs and moral convictions from discriminatory action by the state government. However, top executives from Dow Chemical, PepsiCo, General Electric and five other major US corporations condemned the law as discriminatory. The letter was addressed to the Mississippi governor and the speaker of the Republican-controlled state House of Representatives, reports Reuters.
Human Rights Campaign, a gay rights advocacy group, called for repeal and was also backed by Choice Hotels International, Hewlett-Packard Enterprise, Hyatt Hotels, and Levis Strauss and Co.
Last week, governors of Virginia and Georgia also vetoed religious liberty bills. Gov. Andrew Cuomo of New York responded to its enactment by banning all non-essential state travel to Mississippi. Civil liberties advocates also said they are planning a court challenge.
