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Gay Rights Battle Heats Up in Mississippi and North Carolina Gay Rights Battle Heats Up in Mississippi and North Carolina
(about 1 hour later)
DURHAM, N.C. — Mississippi’s governor signed far-reaching legislation on Tuesday that critics say restricts gay rights and the online-payment company PayPal pulled back on an investment in North Carolina as gay rights issues roiled Southern states.DURHAM, N.C. — Mississippi’s governor signed far-reaching legislation on Tuesday that critics say restricts gay rights and the online-payment company PayPal pulled back on an investment in North Carolina as gay rights issues roiled Southern states.
Both actions reflected escalating tension in Southern legislatures between conservative lawmakers and business interest over gay rights.Both actions reflected escalating tension in Southern legislatures between conservative lawmakers and business interest over gay rights.
In Mississippi, Gov. Phil Bryant, signed into law a measure that would allow business and government workers to deny services based on religious beliefs. The law protects churches, religious charities and privately held businesses that decline services to people if doing so would violate their beliefs. Individual government employees are also protected, although the measure says governments must still provide the services. In Mississippi, Gov. Phil Bryant signed into law a measure that would allow business and government workers to deny services based on religious beliefs. The law protects churches, religious charities and privately held businesses that decline services to people if doing so would violate their beliefs. Individual government employees are also protected, although the measure says governments must still provide the services.
In North Carolina, PayPal said it had dropped plans to put in global operations center in Charlotte because of that state’s recent passage of a law banning anti-discrimination protections based on sexual orientation, gender identity and gender expression. PayPal had pledged to bring 400 jobs and invest $3.6 million in the area by the end of 2017.In North Carolina, PayPal said it had dropped plans to put in global operations center in Charlotte because of that state’s recent passage of a law banning anti-discrimination protections based on sexual orientation, gender identity and gender expression. PayPal had pledged to bring 400 jobs and invest $3.6 million in the area by the end of 2017.
In a statement, Mr. Bryant explained his reasons for signing the Mississippi legislation.In a statement, Mr. Bryant explained his reasons for signing the Mississippi legislation.
“This bill does not create one action against any class or group of people,” the governor said in an interview on a local talk show. “It doesn’t create a new action or a new defense of an action against those people.”“This bill does not create one action against any class or group of people,” the governor said in an interview on a local talk show. “It doesn’t create a new action or a new defense of an action against those people.”
Supporters, including religious leaders and conservative groups, applauded Mr. Bryant’s actions.Supporters, including religious leaders and conservative groups, applauded Mr. Bryant’s actions.
The Alliance Defending Freedom, a conservative legal group, issued a statement that said:The Alliance Defending Freedom, a conservative legal group, issued a statement that said:
Gay-rights advocates, on the other hand, were swift to criticize his action.Gay-rights advocates, on the other hand, were swift to criticize his action.
“This bill flies in the face of the basic American principles of fairness, justice and equality and will not protect anyone’s religious liberty,” Jennifer Riley-Collins, executive director of the American Civil Liberties Union of Mississippi, said in a statement. “Far from protecting anyone from ‘government discrimination’ as the bill claims, it is an attack on the citizens of our state, and it will serve as the Magnolia State’s badge of shame.”“This bill flies in the face of the basic American principles of fairness, justice and equality and will not protect anyone’s religious liberty,” Jennifer Riley-Collins, executive director of the American Civil Liberties Union of Mississippi, said in a statement. “Far from protecting anyone from ‘government discrimination’ as the bill claims, it is an attack on the citizens of our state, and it will serve as the Magnolia State’s badge of shame.”
The bishop of the Episcopal Diocese of Mississippi, Brian R. Seage, called the measure a futile effort “to defend a culture of fear.”The bishop of the Episcopal Diocese of Mississippi, Brian R. Seage, called the measure a futile effort “to defend a culture of fear.”
“The State of Mississippi will likely find itself in federal courts once again,“ Bishiop Seage said in a statement, “spending large sums of funds which could have been spent on building the future.““The State of Mississippi will likely find itself in federal courts once again,“ Bishiop Seage said in a statement, “spending large sums of funds which could have been spent on building the future.“
In Georgia last week, Gov. Nathan Deal vetoed a bill intended to protect critics of same-sex marriage. That bill was intended to offer protections to faith-based groups if they, absent certain conditions, refused to provide “social, educational or charitable services that violate” their religious beliefs. The measure also would have allowed such groups, without legal repercussions, to avoid hiring anyone whose religious beliefs conflicted with those of the organizations.In Georgia last week, Gov. Nathan Deal vetoed a bill intended to protect critics of same-sex marriage. That bill was intended to offer protections to faith-based groups if they, absent certain conditions, refused to provide “social, educational or charitable services that violate” their religious beliefs. The measure also would have allowed such groups, without legal repercussions, to avoid hiring anyone whose religious beliefs conflicted with those of the organizations.
In North Carolina, however, Gov. Pat McCrory of North Carolina signed a law that eliminated anti-discrimination protections for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people. That law — billed as a measure to regulate the use of single-sex bathrooms, but actually going much further — superseded a new anti-discrimination ordinance that was set to take effect in Charlotte this month.In North Carolina, however, Gov. Pat McCrory of North Carolina signed a law that eliminated anti-discrimination protections for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people. That law — billed as a measure to regulate the use of single-sex bathrooms, but actually going much further — superseded a new anti-discrimination ordinance that was set to take effect in Charlotte this month.
With its announcement, PayPal became the first major company to say it was pulling out of an existing project. In a statement issued Tuesday, its chief executive, Dan Schulman, said, “Becoming an employer in North Carolina, where members of our teams will not have equal rights under the law, is simply untenable.”With its announcement, PayPal became the first major company to say it was pulling out of an existing project. In a statement issued Tuesday, its chief executive, Dan Schulman, said, “Becoming an employer in North Carolina, where members of our teams will not have equal rights under the law, is simply untenable.”
Mr. Schulman had already joined now more than 120 other business executives in signing a letter objecting to the new law last week. Some, like Bill Maris, managing partner at Google Ventures, have pledged not to make any new investments in the state until the law is repealed. Other signatories include Apple, Facebook and Charlotte-based Bank of America, the largest corporation in North Carolina. Mayors and governors of other states, including New York, Vermont and Washington, have issued bans on most state-sponsored travel there.Mr. Schulman had already joined now more than 120 other business executives in signing a letter objecting to the new law last week. Some, like Bill Maris, managing partner at Google Ventures, have pledged not to make any new investments in the state until the law is repealed. Other signatories include Apple, Facebook and Charlotte-based Bank of America, the largest corporation in North Carolina. Mayors and governors of other states, including New York, Vermont and Washington, have issued bans on most state-sponsored travel there.
Microsoft’s president and chief legal officer, Brad Smith, raised objections Tuesday to Mississippi’s law.Microsoft’s president and chief legal officer, Brad Smith, raised objections Tuesday to Mississippi’s law.
Mr. McCrory’s office did not immediately respond to a request for comment Tuesday.Mr. McCrory’s office did not immediately respond to a request for comment Tuesday.