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Writers, entertainers, businesses, advocates, politicians stand against new anti-LGBT Mississippi law
Kaylee Bradshaw
Yesterday, notable authors John Grisham, Greg Iles, and Julia Reed were among 95 Mississippi writers to pen a letter opposing Mississippi’s House Bill 1523, which was recently signed into law. In addition to these writers, numerous celebrities, businesses, organizations, and politicians have begun taking to social media to voice their opposition to Mississippi’s discriminatory House Bill 1523, a so-called “religious freedom” bill that has many harmful implications for the LGBT community in Mississippi, including denial of psychological, housing, and medical services based on gender identity and sexual orientation, along with allowing for employment discrimination based upon these factors.
Among the most well-known and widely respected advocates to speak out against the law are Congressman and civil rights leader John Lewis, and comedian Ellen Degeneres, who brought the law to national attention in a monologue on her daily talk show:
The hateful new law in Mississippi is plain wrong. Mississippi has a long dark past, and once again it is on the wrong side of history
— John Lewis (@repjohnlewis) April 5, 2016
Celebrities have taken to their social media accounts to publicly oppose this legislation and to call for action, as well.
Author Neil Gaiman:
How sad. Poor Mississippi, drifting backwards in time, floating away from us and humanity. t.co/YqGmRhLjQO
— Neil Gaiman (@neilhimself) April 5, 2016
Talk show host Montel Williams:
In signing #HB1523 , @PhilBryantMS has chosen Mississippi’s dark past over a bright future. #ShameOnPhil pic.twitter.com/q6MKtZIQHv
— Montel Williams (@Montel_Williams) April 5, 2016
Actress Alyssa Milano:
Please read! Here’s Why Mississippi’s ‘Religious Freedom’ Bill Is So Controversial: t.co/EJ7hs6uQa2
— Alyssa Milano (@Alyssa_Milano) April 5, 2016
Actor Elijah Wood:
What “religious beliefs and moral convictions” are being discriminated against in Mississippi? t.co/clw5gM314g
— Elijah Wood (@elijahwood) April 5, 2016
Singer Lance Bass:
Way to go @PhilBryantMS @VisitMS !! You did it!! Congrats! #HB1523 pic.twitter.com/mMuFdsNKXf
— Lance Bass (@LanceBass) April 5, 2016
Actor Josh Gad:
Wanted to share this important post from my @facebook page today
A photo posted by Josh Gad (@joshgad) on
Producer and talk show host Andy Cohen:
.@PhilBryantMS You are a disgrace to your religion, and the great state of Mississippi.
— Andy Cohen (@Andy) April 5, 2016
Businesses with operations within Mississippi have also made statements opposing HB 1523. IBM:
Disappointing that Mississippi Gov @PhilBryantMS signed H.B. 1523. IBM strongly opposes this discriminatory bill. pic.twitter.com/BjGV8VQbzi
— IBMPolicy (@IBMpolicy) April 5, 2016
LEAGUE at AT&T:
LEAGUE opposes any govt. action that limits basic rights. We ask the #LGBT community/allies to let your voice be heard #NoHateInAnyState
— LEAGUE at AT&T (@LEAGUEatATT) April 11, 2016
Levi Strauss & Co.:
We believe that treating all people equally and fairly is good for business, and discrimination has no place anywhere. #NoOnHB1523
— Levi Strauss & Co. (@LeviStraussCo) April 1, 2016
Mass Mutual:
Diversity is a core value @massmutual. We encourage Gov. @PhilBryantMS to keep MS open for business and veto #HB1523 pic.twitter.com/6tQWZ9sUD2
— MassMutual (@massmutual) April 1, 2016
There has also been a letter written by Human Rights Campaign that has been signed and supported by numerous business leaders. The letter can be found here.
Advocacy organizations and LGBT advocates on the ground have come out against HB 1523 as well.
Local Mississippi advocate, Kaylee Bradshaw:
The ACLU of Mississippi:
Welcome to #Mississippi, the hospitality state that says you’re okay only if you’re straight and married! #HB1523 #ShameOnPhil
— ACLU of Mississippi (@ACLU_MS) April 5, 2016
With 1 stroke of a pen we’ve set back tourism efforts by 5-10 yrs. #HB1523 sends ent biz into damage control mode t.co/5RM4pQotFI
— ACLU of Mississippi (@ACLU_MS) April 12, 2016
Unity Mississippi:
It’s a sad day for so many in Mississippi, @NYGovCuomo. #hb1523 t.co/1qlJMcdzWH
— Unity Mississippi (@unityms) April 5, 2016
Politicians have also shown their opposition for HB 1523.
New York governor Andrew Cuomo:
Today I signed an executive order banning all non-essential state travel to Mississippi: t.co/nGicsQul2m pic.twitter.com/UsvBkvfx2Q
— Andrew Cuomo (@NYGovCuomo) April 5, 2016
Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton:
Refusing to serve LGBT people because of who they are is discrimination. End of story.
t.co/mD5Jkq3gbA— Hillary Clinton (@HillaryClinton) April 6, 2016
Fellow Democratic presidential candidate Bernie Sanders has not made a direct statement about HB 1523, but shared the following related tweet:
Dr. King told us: You judge people on their character, not on the color of their skin. And I’d add not on their gender or sexual orientation
— Bernie Sanders (@SenSanders) April 10, 2016
Republican Democratic candidate John Kasich has not addressed HB 1523, but responded that he “probably would not” have signed a similar discriminatory bill in North Carolina:
Neither of his fellow Republican presidential candidates, Donald Trump or Ted Cruz, have formally responded or announced their positions on HB 1523 or similar bills.
The outpouring of opposition to HB 1523 shows that people all around the country are disturbed by the discriminatory nature of this, and other harmful anti-LGBT bills.
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