by Mike Andrew - SGN Staff Writer Mississippi Gov. Phil Bryant announced April 5 that he has signed HB 1523, a bill to justify anti-LGBT discrimination on religious grounds.

The law will allow officials to refuse marriage licenses to same-sex couples, businesses to refuse them services, and landlords to refuse to rent to them.

Minutes after signing the bill, Bryant appeared on a right-wing talk radio show, saying the new law only prevented 'government from interfering with people of faith who are exercising their religious beliefs ... in matters of marriage.'

Bryant brushed off threats of a boycott like the one that hit North Carolina after its governor, Pat McCrory, signed a similar bill March 23.

'What I've seen in my business, when people in the secular community want to attack a bill, they give the worst possible examples of what will happen,' Bryant said.

A spokesperson for Nissan, which runs a large plant in Canton, Miss., said the company's statement opposing HB 1523 'still stands' in spite of Bryant's signature.

'It is Nissan's policy to prohibit discrimination of any type, and we oppose any legislation that would allow discrimination against lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender individuals,' the statement read.

The Mississippi Economic Council (MEC) also came out against the law.

'As the State Chamber of Commerce for a state that has proven its hospitable and business-friendly approach, MEC opposes efforts that would intentionally or unintentionally prevent Mississippi businesses from implementing and enforcing nondiscrimination policies or that would limit diversity and inclusion impacting their customers and employees,' the organization said in a statement. 'HB 1523 conflicts with this policy.'

The ACLU of Mississippi released a statement calling April 5 'a sad day for the state of Mississippi and for the thousands of Mississippians who can now be turned away from businesses, refused marriage licenses, or denied housing, essential services, and needed care based on who they are.'

'This bill flies in the face of the basic American principles of fairness, justice, and equality and will not protect anyone's religious liberty,' said Jennifer Riley-Collins, executive director of the ACLU of Mississippi. '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.'

Mississippi Democratic Party spokesperson Ouida Meruvia called Bryant's signature of HB 1523 'incredibly disappointing.'

'Instead of tearing down walls that divide, the Republican Party has spent this session building new barriers of bigotry,' she said. 'We must do better.'

Ten other states have passed or are considering similar bills. Gov. Nathan Deal of Georgia and Gov. Terry McAuliffe of Virginia vetoed 'religious freedom' legislation passed in their states.

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