Barber v. Bryant

Members of the clergy, organizations, and other citizens of the State of Mississippi challenging HB 1523. HB 1523 declares that its aim is “to provide certain protections regarding a sincerely held religious belief or moral conviction for persons, religious organizations and private associations.” The Act enumerates the beliefs as follows: “(a) Marriage is or should be recognized as the union of one man and one woman; (b) Sexual relations are properly reserved to such a marriage; and (c) Male (man) or female (woman) refer to an individual’s immutable biological sex as objectively determined by anatomy and genetics at time of birth.” The district court determined that it should preliminarily enjoin the enactment and enforcement of HB 1523. The State moved for a stay pending appeal. The court denied the State's motion for stay pending appeal and its motion to expedite this appeal. The court granted the State’s motion to consolidate this case with 16-60478, Campaign for Southern Equality, et al v. Phil Bryant, et al. The court's decision maintains the status quo in Mississippi as it existed before the Legislature’s passage and attempted enactment of HB 1523. View "Barber v. Bryant" on Justia Law