Committee passes bill supporting union of man, woman

Supporters of a bill passed by a Senate committee say it would prevent discriminatory action from being taken against those who believe marriage should be between a man and a woman, but opponents say it will encourage prejudice against those in the homosexual community, single mothers and unmarried couples.

The Senate Judiciary Committee on Tuesday passed House Bill 1523, or the Religious Liberty Accommodations Act, filed by House Speaker Philip Gunn, R-Clinton. Gunn filed the bill in response to a county clerk in Kentucky being jailed for five days last year for refusing to issue marriage licenses to gay couples.

The bill would also remove any immunity the state has from liability in lawsuits brought forth under the law. Sen. Briggs Hopson, R-Vicksburg, proposed an amendment that would remove that language from the bill, which he said could invite lawsuits.

Hopson also questioned the need for the bill after the Mississippi Legislature passed the Religious Freedom Restoration Act in 2014, which says state and local governments cannot put a substantial burden on religious practices.

“We’ve made this statement in Mississippi. What’s the difference in this bill?” Hopson asked.

The bill also states that marriage should be recognized as the union of one man and one woman; sexual relations are properly reserved to such a marriage; male (man) or female (woman) refer to an individual’s immutable biological sex as objectively determined by anatomy and genetics at time of birth.

Amendments made by Hopson did not pass committee, and Judiciary A Committee Chairman Sean Tindell, R-Gulfport, said he opposed any amendments to the bill.

Another amendment made by Sen. Derrick Simmons, D-Greenville, to require businesses and entities that do not provide services to individuals because of their religious beliefs to post that information in a visible place also did not pass the committee.

“This is an incredibly disappointing day in the Mississippi Senate,” said Human Rights Campaign Mississippi State Director Rob Hill. “By advancing this vile proposal, the Senate is putting Mississippians from all walks of life at risk of discrimination, and sending the disturbing message that it’s okay to treat people differently because of who they are. We emphatically urge the Senate to put a stop to this irresponsible measure.”

The bill will now head to the full Senate for a vote.

Contact Kate Royals at (601) 360-4619 or kroyals@jackson.gannett.com. Follow @KRRoyals on Twitter.