Miss. Gov. Appeals Decision to Block Anti-LGBT 'Religious Freedom' Law

Lawyers for Mississippi's Republican Governor Phil Bryant filed notice Thursday that he is appealing a federal judge's rejection of HB 1523, a sweeping anti-LGBT law masked as "religious freedom." He has also asked the trial court judge to put on hold his ruling halting enforcement of the anti-gay law pending the outcome of his appeal.

"The Court complains that HB 1523's protections 'creates a vehicle for state-sanctioned discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation and gender identity,' but that observation reflects nothing more than the Court's disagreement with Mississippi's decision to prioritize freedom of conscience over anti-discrimination norms," lawyers for the Republican governor argue.

The Commercial Appeal notes that Matt Steffey, a constitutional law expert at the Mississippi College School of Law, said earlier this week he felt sure the law was unconstitutional and would not be upheld on appeal.

"If this were my money, there's no way I'd take on appeal," Steffey said. "I'm sure there will be political pressure, but there's no way I'd do it."

Last week, U.S. District Judge Carlton Reeves blocked Mississippi's anti-LGBT law before it was set to take effect on July 1.

According to AP, HB1523 sought to "protect" three beliefs: That marriage is only between a man and a woman; that sex should only take place in such a marriage; and that a person's gender is determined at birth and cannot be altered.

The law would allow clerks to cite religious objections to recuse themselves from issuing marriage licenses to same-sex couples, and would protect merchants who refuse services to lesbian, gay, bisexual or transgender people. It could affect adoptions and foster care, business practices and school bathroom policies.

In his ruling, Reeves wrote that the title, text and history of the law show it is "the state's attempt to put LGBT citizens back in their place" in response to last summer's Supreme Court ruling that legalized gay marriage nationwide.

"In physics, every action has its equal and opposite reaction," wrote Reeves, who was nominated to the bench by President Barack Obama in 2010. "In politics, every action has its predictable overreaction."