JUDGE BLOCKS MISSISSIPPI’S ‘RELIGIOUS OBJECTIONS’ LAW

JACKSON, MISS. A federal judge blocked a Mississippi law on religious objections to same-sex marriage moments before it was set to take effect Friday, ruling it unconstitutionally establishes preferred beliefs and creates unequal treatment for gay people.

U.S. District Judge Carlton Reeves wrote that the title, text and history of the law show it is “the state’s attempt to put LGBT citizens back in their place” in response to last summer’s U.S. Supreme Court ruling that legalized gay marriage nationwide.

“In physics, every action has its equal and opposite reaction,” wrote Reeves. “In politics, every action has its predictable overreaction.”

Republican Gov. Phil Bryant said he plans to appeal the ruling, which came overnight in response to two lawsuits filed weeks ago by gay and straight plaintiffs.

The law sought to protect three beliefs: marriage is only between a man and a woman; sex should only take place in such a marriage; and gender is determined at birth and cannot be altered.

It would allow clerks to cite religious objections to recuse themselves from issuing marriage licences to samesex couples, and protect merchants who refuse services to lesbian, gay, bisexual or transgender people.