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PROPOSED RESOLUTION
BOYCOTTING MISSISSIPPI AND MISSISSIPPI-BASED BUSINESSES
WHEREAS, the State of Mississippi adopted a controversial new law, HB1523, dubbed the Protecting Freedom of Conscience from Government Discrimination, which would allow government employees to refuse to issue marriage licenses or perform marriage ceremonies; and
WHEREAS, HB1523 allows businesses and faith-based groups to deny housing, jobs and adoption and foster care services to people based on their sexual orientation or gender identity; and
WHEREAS, there will be no disciplinary recourse for businesses or government employees that decline to participate in the provision of treatment, counseling, or surgery related to gender identity, psychological, counseling or fertility services; and
WHEREAS, the Mississippi anti-LGBT Law, which will not take any disciplinary or enforcement action against a person who denies the aforementioned services, will have a negative effect and undermine the level of trust and cooperation between local police and communities; and
WHEREAS, the advocacy group, Freedom for All Americans, referred to Mississippi HB1523 as, "the Nation's worst piece of anti-LGBT legislation", the law goes even further than Indiana's and North Carolina's anti-LGBT laws, Gov. Bryant's bill goes even farther in denying critical protections of and enabling discrimination against LGBT individuals; and
WHEREAS, the State of Mississippi has charted an ominous legal course that puts extremist politics before public safety and respect for human dignity, and betrays our most deeply-held American values; and
WHEREAS, HB1523 seriously undermines our basic American principles of fairness, justice and equality and will not protect anyone's religious rights; and
WHEREAS, the State of Mississippi continues to be one of three states to combine Robert E. Lee and Dr. Martin Luther King as a state holiday on the same day; one a Confederate General that led the Con...
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