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data-activy-map="social-share-lks-article-top" data-ttid="social-share-menu"><li data-ttid="social-share-facebook" class="styl_em__b5A78 styl_facebook__bOW_X"><a href=" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" class="styl_lk__RsJVU"><span class="in in-share-facebook"></span></a></li><li data-ttid="social-share-twter" class="styl_em__b5A78 styl_twter__ww7sF"><a href=" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" class="styl_lk__RsJVU"><span class="in in-twter"></span></a></li><li data-ttid="social-share-ptert" class="styl_em__b5A78 styl_ptert__CaMm1"><a href=" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" class="styl_lk__RsJVU"><span class="in in-share-ptert"></span></a></li><li data-ttid="social-share-email" class="styl_em__b5A78"><a href="mailto:?subject=Miss. Senate Pass Sweepg 'Relig Liberty' Bill& target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" class="styl_lk__RsJVU"><span class="in in-share-email"></span></a></li><li data-ttid="social-share-py" class="styl_em__b5A78 styl_py__RACZ3"><button type="button" class="styl_button__b3sx_"><span class="in in-lk"></span></button><div class="styl_pyTooltip__Ut_t1"><span class="in in-alt-check"></span></div></li><li data-ttid="social-share-sms" class="styl_em__b5A78 styl_sms__Vohh6"><a href="sms:?&body=Miss. Senate Pass Sweepg 'Relig Liberty' Bill via nbews - target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" class="styl_lk__RsJVU"><span class="in in-sms"></span></a></li><li data-ttid="social-share-prt" class="styl_prt__cw6Gn"><button type="button" class="styl_button__b3sx_"><span class="in in-share-prt styl_in__P3XZT"></span><span class="styl_text___8iNX">Prt</span></button></li><li data-ttid="social-share-save" class="styl_save__ILVuj"></li></ul></div><div class="article-body__date-source"><time class="relative z-1" dateTime="2016-03-31T17:44:00.000Z" ntent="2016-03-31T17:44:00.000Z">March 31, 2016, 5:44 PM UTC<span> / </span>Updated<!-- --> <!-- -->March 31, 2016, 5:44 PM UTC</time></div><div class="article-le-byle" data-activy-map="le-byle-article-top">By <span class="byle-name">Jacquellena Carrero</span></div></sectn><div class="article-body__ntent article-body-font--loadg"><p class="">The Mississippi Senate voted Wednday eveng to pass a relig eedom bill which some say uld have sweepg anti-LGBT repercsns for the Uned Stat.</p><p class="">The Republin-domated Senate voted 31-17 to pass the ntroversial bill, lled the “Protectg Freedom of Conscience From Government Discrimatn Act.”</p><div class="ad ad--text-alignment ad-ntaer boxleAd dn-prt"><div data-mps="te" data-slot="boxle" data-siz="[[[1000,1],[]],[[758,1],[[300,250],[700,50],[5,5],[728,90],[360,360]]],[[0,0],[[300,250],[700,50],[5,5],[360,360]]]]" data-renr-on-view="te" data-targetg="{}" data-active-tab="te" data-offset-viewport="100"></div></div><div id="taboolaReadMoreBelow"></div><p class="">The <a href=">legislatn says</a> that bs, social workers and public employe nnot be punished for nyg servic based on the belief that marriage is between a man and a woman or that “sexual relatns are properly rerved to such a marriage.” It also protects dividuals who believe genr is termed at birth.</p><figure class="styl_leImage__yAWZ0 styl_medium__OMa6x"><picture class="styl_image__1qciH"><source media="(m-width: 1000px)" srcSet=" 2x, 1x"/><source srcSet=" 2x, 1x"/><img loadg="lazy" src=" alt="Meridian rint Nykolas Alford wav a rabow-lored flag signed wh the U.S. flag durg a Human Rights Campaign prott of Hoe Bill 1523 on the Mississippi State Capol steps Jackson, Miss., on March 29." height="1665" width="2500"/></picture><figptn class="ptn styl_ptn__Pe5JC"><span class="ptn__ntaer">Meridian rint Nykolas Alford wav a rabow-lored flag signed wh the U.S. flag durg a Human Rights Campaign prott of Hoe Bill 1523 on the Mississippi State Capol steps Jackson, Miss., on March 29.</span><span class="ptn__source">Jt Sellers / The Clarn-Ledger via AP</span></figptn></figure><p class="">Acrdg to the bill, the ernment would not be allowed to prevent anizatns om refg to marry a same-sex uple, om firg an dividual whose “nduct or relig beliefs are nsistent wh those of the relig anizatn” or om blockg the adoptn of a child bee of relig beliefs.</p><p class="">Republin Sen. Chris McDaniel said Wednday protects the civil liberti of Mississippi rints om ernment terference.</p><p class=""><strong>Related: <a href=">A Rhed Vote Draws North Carola Into Natnal Fight Over LGBT Rights</a></strong></p><div class="ad ad--text-alignment ad-ntaer boxleAd dn-prt"><div data-mps="te" data-slot="boxle" data-siz="[[[1000,1],[]],[[758,1],[[300,250],[700,50],[5,5],[728,90],[360,360]]],[[0,0],[[300,250],[700,50],[5,5],[360,360]]]]" data-renr-on-view="te" data-targetg="{}" data-active-tab="te" data-offset-viewport="100"></div></div><p class="">"Why not prerve the first amendment? Why not prerve the civil liberti that should have always been prerved, not necsarily by dividual actors but by state actn, lim the power of the state, ntrol those passns?" he said.</p><p class="">But some opponents, such as Sen. John Horhn, said the bill would be a sta on Mississippi’s reputatn.</p><p class="">"Where do this all end? Why do we keep dog this to ourselv, Mississippi? And we wonr why the rt of the world thks so badly of . It's bee of some thgs that we do that are unjt," <a href=">he said</a>.</p><p class="">The bill passed the Mississippi Hoe 80-39 Febary, but now heads back to the Hoe before the legislatn go to the ernor’s sk.</p><div class="ad ad--text-alignment ad-ntaer boxleAd dn-prt"><div data-mps="te" data-slot="boxle" data-siz="[[[1000,1],[]],[[758,1],[[300,250],[700,50],[5,5],[728,90],[360,360]]],[[0,0],[[300,250],[700,50],[5,5],[360,360]]]]" data-renr-on-view="te" data-targetg="{}" data-active-tab="te" data-offset-viewport="100"></div></div><p class="">Mississippi Gov. Phil Bryant has not said whether he will veto the legislatn if passed by the Hoe.</p><div class="remend-tersectn-ref" data-activy-map="remend-article-body-remend"></div><p class="">“The ernor will review the legislatn if and when reach his sk,” Clay Chandler, a spokman for Bryant, told NBC News Thursday.</p><div class="remend-tersectn-ref" data-activy-map="remend-article-body-remend"></div><p class="">Bryant told NBC statn WLBT last week that he didn’t believe the legislatn was discrimatory.</p><p class="">"I thk giv some people, as I appreciate , the right to be able to say that's agast my relig beliefs and I don't need to rry out that particular task," Bryant <a href=">told the statn</a>.</p><div class="ad ad--text-alignment ad-ntaer boxleAd dn-prt"><div data-mps="te" data-slot="boxle" data-siz="[[[1000,1],[]],[[758,1],[[300,250],[700,50],[5,5],[728,90],[360,360]]],[[0,0],[[300,250],[700,50],[5,5],[360,360]]]]" data-renr-on-view="te" data-targetg="{}" data-active-tab="te" data-offset-viewport="100"></div></div><p class="">Mississippi Litenant Gov. Tate Reev exprsed his support for the bill a <a href=">statement </a>on Wednday.</p><p class="">“In the wake of last year’s U.S. Supreme Court cisn, many Mississippians, cludg pastors, wanted protectn to exercise their relig liberti,” Reev said. “This bill simply protects those dividuals om ernment terference when practicg their relig beliefs.”</p><p class="">Mississippi is the latt battleground state to bee embroiled the fight over LGBT rights followg the Supreme Court lg that ma same-sex marriage legal.</p><p class="">On Monday, Geia Gov. Nathan Deal announced he would <a href=">veto a ntroversial bill</a> that would have allowed bs and clergy to refe servic to people based on their relig opposn to same-sex marriage. Meanwhile, North Carola, a aln of civil rights groups sued Gov. Pat McCrory who signed a law that blocked the cy of Charlotte's attempt to extend LGBT protectns.</p><sectn class="le-vio le-vio---body"><div class="le-vio__background"><div class="le-vio__player"><div class="vioPlayer styl_vioPlayer__bL8AJ styl_adNotPlayg__Q51_C styl_alignDktopBottom__4cHaO styl_alignMobileBottom__bhgkQ"><div class="vioSlate"><a href=" class="allowClicksOnPreview"><picture class=""><source media="(m-width: 1240px)" srcSet="><source media="(m-width: 758px)" srcSet="><img loadg="lazy" src=" height="720" width="1280"/></picture></a><div class="playButtonOuter absolute absolute-fill w100 dn-prt"><div class="absolute absolute-fill w100 df ems-center ems-center-m jtify-center jtify-center-m"><div class="play le-vio__play-button"><svg class="play--in" xmlns=" viewBox="0 0 15 15" prerveAspectRat="xMidYMid" style="max-width:30px"><path d="M0 0v15l15-7.41z" fill-le="evenodd"></path></svg></div></div></div></div><div id="42470981765"></div></div></div></div><div class="le-vio__"><h2 class="le-vio__tle"><a href=">Geia Governor to Veto Controversial 'Relig Rights' Bill</a></h2><span class="le-vio__tail"><span>March 28, 2016</span><span>02:09</span></span><div class="styl_share__n3Syu le-vio__share dn-prt"><div class="styl_shareExpanr__hVk8d le-vio__share-expanr styl_hoverEffect___Dj4s"><span class="styl_shareDot__9pfRZ le-vio__share-dot"></span><svg class="styl_shareClose__6BZxR le-vio__share-close" viewBox="0 0 15 15"><le class="styl_shareLe__EJUjO" x1="0" x2="15" y1="0" y2="15"></le><le class="styl_shareLe__EJUjO" x1="0" x2="15" y1="15" y2="0"></le></svg></div><div class="styl_shareList___M8wC le-vio__share-list"><a href=" class="styl_shareLk__gSGN3" target="_blank" rel="noopen noreferrer"><span class="in in-facebook styl_shareIn__lVnRm le-vio__share-in"></span></a><a href=" class="styl_shareLk__gSGN3" target="_blank" rel="noopen noreferrer"><span class="in in-twter styl_shareIn__lVnRm le-vio__share-in"></span></a><a href="mailto:?subject=Geia Governor to Veto Controversial 'Relig Rights' Bill& class="styl_shareLk__gSGN3" target="_blank" rel="noopen noreferrer"><span class="in in-email styl_shareIn__lVnRm le-vio__share-in"></span></a></div></div></div></sectn><p class="">In Mississippi, LGBT rights groups spoke out agast the bill, sayg would unrme equal rights.</p><div class="ad ad--text-alignment ad-ntaer boxleAd dn-prt"><div data-mps="te" data-slot="boxle" data-siz="[[[1000,1],[]],[[758,1],[[300,250],[700,50],[5,5],[728,90],[360,360]]],[[0,0],[[300,250],[700,50],[5,5],[360,360]]]]" data-renr-on-view="te" data-targetg="{}" data-active-tab="te" data-offset-viewport="100"></div></div><p class="">“Freedom of relign is one of our most fundamental rights as Amerins, but that eedom do not give any of the right to harm or mistreat others,” the ACLU of Mississippi said a statement. “Legislators have gone out of their way to stigmatize and margalize same sex upl by phg this legislatn. The Mississippi State Legislature should look for ways to brg Mississippians together, not divi along relig l. The ACLU of Mississippi urg the state legislature to kill this divisive bill nference.”</p><p class="">Human Rights Campaign print Chad Griff echoed the ACLU, sayg the legislatn would unrme equaly the state and uld rult backlash om bs.</p><p class=""><strong>Related: <a href=">Corporate Boytts Bee Key Weapon Gay Rights Fight</a></strong></p><p class="endmark">“Governor Byrant should be payg close attentn to the backlash agast discrimatn Geia, where Gov. Nathan Deal vetoed a terrible anti-LGBT bill, and North Carola, where fair-md people and the broar bs muny are llg on state lears to repudiate and repeal the discrimatory law passed last week,” Griff said a statement. “Mississippi’s enomy and s reputatn hang the balance.”</p></div><div class="expand-byle-ntributors articleByleContaer"><div class="expand-byle article-expand-byle" data-activy-map="expand-byle-article-bottom"><div class="byle-thumbnail byle-thumbnail--has-image expand-byle__thumbnail"><picture><source srcSet=" 2x, 1x"/><img loadg="lazy" src=" alt="" height="48" width="48"/></picture></div><span class="byle-name expand-byle__name">Jacquellena Carrero</span><span class="byle-social expand-byle__social"><a href=" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" class="byle-social--lk"><span class="in in-twter"></span></a><a href="" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" class="byle-social--lk"><span class="in in-email"></span></a></span><div class="expand-byle__b-wrapper"><p class="byle-b expand-byle__b">Jacquellena Carrero is a Dk Reporter at NBC News. </p></div></div><div class="expand-ntributors">Natalie Obregon<!-- --> <!-- -->ntributed<!-- -->.</div></div></div><div class="article-body--right-rail-ntaer"><div class="article-body__right-rail layout-grid-em grid-l-4_5-l grid-l-3_5-xl grid-l-ph-half-xl"><div class="ad article-body__right-rail--ad ad--text-alignment ad-ntaer dn-prt"><div data-mps="te" data-slot="boxrail" data-siz="[[[1000,1],[[300,250],[360,360]]],[[758,1],[]],[[0,0],[]]]" data-offset="10" data-renr-on-view="te" data-targetg="{}" data-active-tab="te"></div></div></div></div></div><div class="body-bottom-remend"><div class="ad ad--midrponsive ad-ntaer dn-prt"><div data-mps="te" data-slot="midrponsive" data-siz="[[[1000,1],[[700,1],[5,5]]],[[758,1],[]],[[0,0],[]]]" data-offset="300" data-reh-terval="0" data-renr-on-view="te" data-targetg="{}" data-active-tab="te"></div></div></div></div></div></article></div></div><div id="hfs-footer" class="dn-prt" data-activy-map="hfs-footer"><footer class="hfsf" ><div class="ner"><div class="logo"><a href="><svg class="peack" viewBox="578 62 67 39" xmlns=" fill="currentColor"><g fill-le="evenodd"><path d="M579.074 90.58c1.717-4.494 6.472-6.08 10.697-3.37l18.29 12.754h-22.18c-4.62 0-8.252-4.23-6.8-9.385"></path><path class="feather" d="M579.074 90.58c1.717-4.494 6.472-6.08 10.697-3.37l18.29 12.754h-22.18c-4.62 0-8.252-4.23-6.8-9.385"></path><path class="feather" d="M597.563 75.863l9.442 21.613-19.478-13.35c-4.887-3.24-3.896-8.79-1.19-11.237 3.83-3.24 9.245-2.12 11.226 2.97"></path><path class="feather" d="M610.57 70.93l-3.433 24.19-9.772-23c-2.113-5.75 2.64-9.516 5.81-9.583 3.632-.396 8.188 2.38 7.396 8.394"></path><path class="feather" d="M625.494 72.103l-9.707 23.067-3.102-20.82c-.265-3.17 1.716-3.237 2.443-3.832-.133-.463-1.124-.463-1.124-.463h-1.848c-.198-5.42 4.028-7.8 7.462-7.535 3.697.132 7.856 4.428 5.876 9.583"></path><path class="feather" d="M635.338 84.167L615.86 97.584l9.177-21.348c2.775-6.742 9.245-5.42 11.556-2.842 2.51 2.51 3.235 7.6-1.255 10.773"></path><path class="feather" d="M637.448 99.9h-22.515l18.29-12.756c4.49-2.975 9.244-.266 10.498 3.635 1.327 4.36-1.65 9.12-6.27 9.12"></path></g></svg></a></div><nav class="lks"><ul class="lks__wrap" data-l-2="14" data-l-3=15><li><a href=" target="_self">About</a></li><li><a href=" target="_self">Contact</a></li><li><a href=">Help</a></li><li><a href=">Careers</a></li><li><a href=" target="_blank" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Ad Choic</a></li><li><a href=" target="_blank" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Privacy Policy</a></li><li><a href=" target="_blank" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Do Not Sell My Personal Informatn</a></li><li><a href=" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">CA Notice</a></li><li><a href=">New Terms of Service (Updated JULY 7, 2023)</a></li><li><a href=">NBC News Semap</a></li><li><a href=">Advertise</a></li><li><a href=" target="_self">Select Shoppg</a></li><li><a href=" target="_self">Select Personal Fance</a></li></ul></nav><div class="py"><p>© 2023 NBC UNIVERSAL</p><div class="brands"><a href="><svg viewBox="0 0 120 20" fill="none" xmlns=" aria-labelledby="nbc_news_logo"><tle class="nbc_news_logo">NBC News Logo

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Senate Pass Sweepg 'Relig Liberty' Bill via nbews - target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" class="styl_lk__RsJVU"><span class="in in-sms"></span></a></li><li data-ttid="social-share-prt" class="styl_prt__cw6Gn"><button type="button" class="styl_button__b3sx_"><span class="in in-share-prt styl_in__P3XZT"></span><span class="styl_text___8iNX">Prt</span></button></li><li data-ttid="social-share-save" class="styl_save__ILVuj"></li></ul></div><div class="article-body__date-source"><time class="relative z-1" dateTime="2016-03-31T17:44:00.000Z" ntent="2016-03-31T17:44:00.000Z">March 31, 2016, 5:44 PM UTC<span> / </span>Updated<!-- --> <!-- -->March 31, 2016, 5:44 PM UTC</time></div><div class="article-le-byle" data-activy-map="le-byle-article-top">By <span class="byle-name">Jacquellena Carrero</span></div></sectn><div class="article-body__ntent article-body-font--loadg"><p class="">The Mississippi Senate voted Wednday eveng to pass a relig eedom bill which some say uld have sweepg anti-LGBT repercsns for the Uned Stat.</p><p class="">The Republin-domated Senate voted 31-17 to pass the ntroversial bill, lled the “Protectg Freedom of Conscience From Government Discrimatn Act.”</p><div class="ad ad--text-alignment ad-ntaer boxleAd dn-prt"><div data-mps="te" data-slot="boxle" data-siz="[[[1000,1],[]],[[758,1],[[300,250],[700,50],[5,5],[728,90],[360,360]]],[[0,0],[[300,250],[700,50],[5,5],[360,360]]]]" data-renr-on-view="te" data-targetg="{}" data-active-tab="te" data-offset-viewport="100"></div></div><div id="taboolaReadMoreBelow"></div><p class="">The <a href=">legislatn says</a> that bs, social workers and public employe nnot be punished for nyg servic based on the belief that marriage is between a man and a woman or that “sexual relatns are properly rerved to such a marriage.” It also protects dividuals who believe genr is termed at birth.</p><figure class="styl_leImage__yAWZ0 styl_medium__OMa6x"><picture class="styl_image__1qciH"><source media="(m-width: 1000px)" srcSet=" 2x, 1x"/><source srcSet=" 2x, 1x"/><img loadg="lazy" src=" alt="Meridian rint Nykolas Alford wav a rabow-lored flag signed wh the U.S. flag durg a Human Rights Campaign prott of Hoe Bill 1523 on the Mississippi State Capol steps Jackson, Miss., on March 29." height="1665" width="2500"/></picture><figptn class="ptn styl_ptn__Pe5JC"><span class="ptn__ntaer">Meridian rint Nykolas Alford wav a rabow-lored flag signed wh the U.S. flag durg a Human Rights Campaign prott of Hoe Bill 1523 on the Mississippi State Capol steps Jackson, Miss., on March 29.</span><span class="ptn__source">Jt Sellers / The Clarn-Ledger via AP</span></figptn></figure><p class="">Acrdg to the bill, the ernment would not be allowed to prevent anizatns om refg to marry a same-sex uple, om firg an dividual whose “nduct or relig beliefs are nsistent wh those of the relig anizatn” or om blockg the adoptn of a child bee of relig beliefs.</p><p class="">Republin Sen. Chris McDaniel said Wednday protects the civil liberti of Mississippi rints om ernment terference.</p><p class=""><strong>Related: <a href=">A Rhed Vote Draws North Carola Into Natnal Fight Over LGBT Rights</a></strong></p><div class="ad ad--text-alignment ad-ntaer boxleAd dn-prt"><div data-mps="te" data-slot="boxle" data-siz="[[[1000,1],[]],[[758,1],[[300,250],[700,50],[5,5],[728,90],[360,360]]],[[0,0],[[300,250],[700,50],[5,5],[360,360]]]]" data-renr-on-view="te" data-targetg="{}" data-active-tab="te" data-offset-viewport="100"></div></div><p class="">"Why not prerve the first amendment? Why not prerve the civil liberti that should have always been prerved, not necsarily by dividual actors but by state actn, lim the power of the state, ntrol those passns?" he said.</p><p class="">But some opponents, such as Sen. John Horhn, said the bill would be a sta on Mississippi’s reputatn.</p><p class="">"Where do this all end? Why do we keep dog this to ourselv, Mississippi? And we wonr why the rt of the world thks so badly of . It's bee of some thgs that we do that are unjt," <a href=">he said</a>.</p><p class="">The bill passed the Mississippi Hoe 80-39 Febary, but now heads back to the Hoe before the legislatn go to the ernor’s sk.</p><div class="ad ad--text-alignment ad-ntaer boxleAd dn-prt"><div data-mps="te" data-slot="boxle" data-siz="[[[1000,1],[]],[[758,1],[[300,250],[700,50],[5,5],[728,90],[360,360]]],[[0,0],[[300,250],[700,50],[5,5],[360,360]]]]" data-renr-on-view="te" data-targetg="{}" data-active-tab="te" data-offset-viewport="100"></div></div><p class="">Mississippi Gov. Phil Bryant has not said whether he will veto the legislatn if passed by the Hoe.</p><div class="remend-tersectn-ref" data-activy-map="remend-article-body-remend"></div><p class="">“The ernor will review the legislatn if and when reach his sk,” Clay Chandler, a spokman for Bryant, told NBC News Thursday.</p><div class="remend-tersectn-ref" data-activy-map="remend-article-body-remend"></div><p class="">Bryant told NBC statn WLBT last week that he didn’t believe the legislatn was discrimatory.</p><p class="">"I thk giv some people, as I appreciate , the right to be able to say that's agast my relig beliefs and I don't need to rry out that particular task," Bryant <a href=">told the statn</a>.</p><div class="ad ad--text-alignment ad-ntaer boxleAd dn-prt"><div data-mps="te" data-slot="boxle" data-siz="[[[1000,1],[]],[[758,1],[[300,250],[700,50],[5,5],[728,90],[360,360]]],[[0,0],[[300,250],[700,50],[5,5],[360,360]]]]" data-renr-on-view="te" data-targetg="{}" data-active-tab="te" data-offset-viewport="100"></div></div><p class="">Mississippi Litenant Gov. Tate Reev exprsed his support for the bill a <a href=">statement </a>on Wednday.</p><p class="">“In the wake of last year’s U.S. Supreme Court cisn, many Mississippians, cludg pastors, wanted protectn to exercise their relig liberti,” Reev said. “This bill simply protects those dividuals om ernment terference when practicg their relig beliefs.”</p><p class="">Mississippi is the latt battleground state to bee embroiled the fight over LGBT rights followg the Supreme Court lg that ma same-sex marriage legal.</p><p class="">On Monday, Geia Gov. Nathan Deal announced he would <a href=">veto a ntroversial bill</a> that would have allowed bs and clergy to refe servic to people based on their relig opposn to same-sex marriage. Meanwhile, North Carola, a aln of civil rights groups sued Gov. Pat McCrory who signed a law that blocked the cy of Charlotte's attempt to extend LGBT protectns.</p><sectn class="le-vio le-vio---body"><div class="le-vio__background"><div class="le-vio__player"><div class="vioPlayer styl_vioPlayer__bL8AJ styl_adNotPlayg__Q51_C styl_alignDktopBottom__4cHaO styl_alignMobileBottom__bhgkQ"><div class="vioSlate"><a href=" class="allowClicksOnPreview"><picture class=""><source media="(m-width: 1240px)" srcSet="><source media="(m-width: 758px)" srcSet="><img loadg="lazy" src=" height="720" width="1280"/></picture></a><div class="playButtonOuter absolute absolute-fill w100 dn-prt"><div class="absolute absolute-fill w100 df ems-center ems-center-m jtify-center jtify-center-m"><div class="play le-vio__play-button"><svg class="play--in" xmlns=" viewBox="0 0 15 15" prerveAspectRat="xMidYMid" style="max-width:30px"><path d="M0 0v15l15-7.41z" fill-le="evenodd"></path></svg></div></div></div></div><div id="42470981765"></div></div></div></div><div class="le-vio__"><h2 class="le-vio__tle"><a href=">Geia Governor to Veto Controversial 'Relig Rights' Bill</a></h2><span class="le-vio__tail"><span>March 28, 2016</span><span>02:09</span></span><div class="styl_share__n3Syu le-vio__share dn-prt"><div class="styl_shareExpanr__hVk8d le-vio__share-expanr styl_hoverEffect___Dj4s"><span class="styl_shareDot__9pfRZ le-vio__share-dot"></span><svg class="styl_shareClose__6BZxR le-vio__share-close" viewBox="0 0 15 15"><le class="styl_shareLe__EJUjO" x1="0" x2="15" y1="0" y2="15"></le><le class="styl_shareLe__EJUjO" x1="0" x2="15" y1="15" y2="0"></le></svg></div><div class="styl_shareList___M8wC le-vio__share-list"><a href=" class="styl_shareLk__gSGN3" target="_blank" rel="noopen noreferrer"><span class="in in-facebook styl_shareIn__lVnRm le-vio__share-in"></span></a><a href=" class="styl_shareLk__gSGN3" target="_blank" rel="noopen noreferrer"><span class="in in-twter styl_shareIn__lVnRm le-vio__share-in"></span></a><a href="mailto:?subject=Geia Governor to Veto Controversial 'Relig Rights' Bill& class="styl_shareLk__gSGN3" target="_blank" rel="noopen noreferrer"><span class="in in-email styl_shareIn__lVnRm le-vio__share-in"></span></a></div></div></div></sectn><p class="">In Mississippi, LGBT rights groups spoke out agast the bill, sayg would unrme equal rights.</p><div class="ad ad--text-alignment ad-ntaer boxleAd dn-prt"><div data-mps="te" data-slot="boxle" data-siz="[[[1000,1],[]],[[758,1],[[300,250],[700,50],[5,5],[728,90],[360,360]]],[[0,0],[[300,250],[700,50],[5,5],[360,360]]]]" data-renr-on-view="te" data-targetg="{}" data-active-tab="te" data-offset-viewport="100"></div></div><p class="">“Freedom of relign is one of our most fundamental rights as Amerins, but that eedom do not give any of the right to harm or mistreat others,” the ACLU of Mississippi said a statement. “Legislators have gone out of their way to stigmatize and margalize same sex upl by phg this legislatn. The Mississippi State Legislature should look for ways to brg Mississippians together, not divi along relig l. The ACLU of Mississippi urg the state legislature to kill this divisive bill nference.”</p><p class="">Human Rights Campaign print Chad Griff echoed the ACLU, sayg the legislatn would unrme equaly the state and uld rult backlash om bs.</p><p class=""><strong>Related: <a href=">Corporate Boytts Bee Key Weapon Gay Rights Fight</a></strong></p><p class="endmark">“Governor Byrant should be payg close attentn to the backlash agast discrimatn Geia, where Gov. Nathan Deal vetoed a terrible anti-LGBT bill, and North Carola, where fair-md people and the broar bs muny are llg on state lears to repudiate and repeal the discrimatory law passed last week,” Griff said a statement. “Mississippi’s enomy and s reputatn hang the balance.”</p></div><div class="expand-byle-ntributors articleByleContaer"><div class="expand-byle article-expand-byle" data-activy-map="expand-byle-article-bottom"><div class="byle-thumbnail byle-thumbnail--has-image expand-byle__thumbnail"><picture><source srcSet=" 2x, 1x"/><img loadg="lazy" src=" alt="" height="48" width="48"/></picture></div><span class="byle-name expand-byle__name">Jacquellena Carrero</span><span class="byle-social expand-byle__social"><a href=" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" class="byle-social--lk"><span class="in in-twter"></span></a><a href="" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" class="byle-social--lk"><span class="in in-email"></span></a></span><div class="expand-byle__b-wrapper"><p class="byle-b expand-byle__b">Jacquellena Carrero is a Dk Reporter at NBC News. </p></div></div><div class="expand-ntributors">Natalie Obregon<!-- --> <!-- -->ntributed<!-- -->.</div></div></div><div class="article-body--right-rail-ntaer"><div class="article-body__right-rail layout-grid-em grid-l-4_5-l grid-l-3_5-xl grid-l-ph-half-xl"><div class="ad article-body__right-rail--ad ad--text-alignment ad-ntaer dn-prt"><div data-mps="te" data-slot="boxrail" data-siz="[[[1000,1],[[300,250],[360,360]]],[[758,1],[]],[[0,0],[]]]" data-offset="10" data-renr-on-view="te" data-targetg="{}" data-active-tab="te"></div></div></div></div></div><div class="body-bottom-remend"><div class="ad ad--midrponsive ad-ntaer dn-prt"><div data-mps="te" data-slot="midrponsive" data-siz="[[[1000,1],[[700,1],[5,5]]],[[758,1],[]],[[0,0],[]]]" data-offset="300" data-reh-terval="0" data-renr-on-view="te" data-targetg="{}" data-active-tab="te"></div></div></div></div></div></article></div></div><div id="hfs-footer" class="dn-prt" data-activy-map="hfs-footer"><footer class="hfsf" ><div class="ner"><div class="logo"><a href="><svg class="peack" viewBox="578 62 67 39" xmlns=" fill="currentColor"><g fill-le="evenodd"><path d="M579.074 90.58c1.717-4.494 6.472-6.08 10.697-3.37l18.29 12.754h-22.18c-4.62 0-8.252-4.23-6.8-9.385"></path><path class="feather" d="M579.074 90.58c1.717-4.494 6.472-6.08 10.697-3.37l18.29 12.754h-22.18c-4.62 0-8.252-4.23-6.8-9.385"></path><path class="feather" d="M597.563 75.863l9.442 21.613-19.478-13.35c-4.887-3.24-3.896-8.79-1.19-11.237 3.83-3.24 9.245-2.12 11.226 2.97"></path><path class="feather" d="M610.57 70.93l-3.433 24.19-9.772-23c-2.113-5.75 2.64-9.516 5.81-9.583 3.632-.396 8.188 2.38 7.396 8.394"></path><path class="feather" d="M625.494 72.103l-9.707 23.067-3.102-20.82c-.265-3.17 1.716-3.237 2.443-3.832-.133-.463-1.124-.463-1.124-.463h-1.848c-.198-5.42 4.028-7.8 7.462-7.535 3.697.132 7.856 4.428 5.876 9.583"></path><path class="feather" d="M635.338 84.167L615.86 97.584l9.177-21.348c2.775-6.742 9.245-5.42 11.556-2.842 2.51 2.51 3.235 7.6-1.255 10.773"></path><path class="feather" d="M637.448 99.9h-22.515l18.29-12.756c4.49-2.975 9.244-.266 10.498 3.635 1.327 4.36-1.65 9.12-6.27 9.12"></path></g></svg></a></div><nav class="lks"><ul class="lks__wrap" data-l-2="14" data-l-3=15><li><a href=" target="_self">About</a></li><li><a href=" target="_self">Contact</a></li><li><a href=">Help</a></li><li><a href=">Careers</a></li><li><a href=" target="_blank" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Ad Choic</a></li><li><a href=" target="_blank" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Privacy Policy</a></li><li><a href=" target="_blank" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Do Not Sell My Personal Informatn</a></li><li><a href=" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">CA Notice</a></li><li><a href=">New Terms of Service (Updated JULY 7, 2023)</a></li><li><a href=">NBC News Semap</a></li><li><a href=">Advertise</a></li><li><a href=" target="_self">Select Shoppg</a></li><li><a href=" target="_self">Select Personal Fance</a></li></ul></nav><div class="py"><p>© 2023 NBC UNIVERSAL</p><div class="brands"><a href="><svg viewBox="0 0 120 20" fill="none" xmlns=" aria-labelledby="nbc_news_logo"><tle class="nbc_news_logo">NBC News Logo .