Religion and morals are great to have around; using religion and morals as an excuse to legally discriminate against others, however, is terrible. I'm not going to tell people to change their beliefs. I'm going to tell people that they need to be fair, they need to love, and they need to be accepting, whether or not they agree with the lifestyles of others.
On July 1st, 2016 a law will take effect in Mississippi that, in simplest terms, allows businesses to decline service to the LGBTQ community. This is what the media has been focusing on. It's more than just declining service though, and the other specifics need to be addressed. The bill, HB 1523, also states that no discriminatory action will be taken against employers who make the choice whether or not to hire, fire or discipline a person based on their sexuality. Furthermore, it allows people to decline rental, sales or occupancy of housing. It also allows people to refuse to provide psychological services and counseling based on gender identification and sexuality.
While the bill states that it allows these actions, "Based upon or in a manner consistent with a sincerely held religious belief or moral conviction." Or moral conviction. Those three words make the issue bigger than religious beliefs. The bill does not provide any guidelines that determine the meaning of "religious beliefs" or "moral convictions," allowing anybody to say that their moral convictions prevent them from serving a LGBTQ+ individual. The issue is that this law is going to allow people to legally discriminate without any consequences; something that takes this country backward and is not acceptable in a place that is supposed to be based on freedom. The LGBTQ+ community is not trying to take away religious freedom. They are not trying to tell people that their religion is wrong. Declining the LGBTQ+ community of basic needs, services and opportunities because of religion is telling them that they are wrong and they need to change. It's not right, it's not fair, and it's not ethical.
Businesses declining employment based on sexuality goes against Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 which prohibits employment discrimination based on sex, including gender identity and sexual orientation. People need employment to live. If somebody has a quality resume, the correct specifications, experience, skills and a positive attitude, there is no reason for them to be turned away just because of their sexuality. There is not a logical explanation to decline an excellent worker based on who they love. The same goes for choosing a place to live. If a person is a favorable tenant, the fact that they love somebody the same gender is ridiculous. Being gay is not a character flaw. It does not make somebody unworthy of the basic right to housing. If they can pay the rent, respect the land, and are not a threat to the property, refusing to provide a roof to live under is foolish.
Denying people of psychological help and counseling is absurd. According to the National Alliance of Mental Illness, "LGBTQ individuals are almost 3 times more likely than others to experience a mental health condition such as major depression or generalized anxiety disorder," and are also have a greater risk for suicide. There should be more of a focus on getting people the mental help they need, not denying people of it. This law will not be helping anybody, it will only harm them. This law is not protecting anybody's beliefs; it is oppressing individuals for being different than what some would like them to be.
This discriminatory behavior is a major reason that people are ashamed, scared and upset. They support thoughts that LGBTQ+ individuals are not equal to others. Nobody is trying to take away religious freedom or abolish their beliefs, they are only trying to live and be a positive member of society, just like any other citizen. People may not support who somebody loves, but that doesn't give them the right to disrespect and neglect them. This law is a major step in the wrong direction. The world needs to open their minds to equality, and more importantly, they need to open their hearts to welcome people no matter what. Love is love, people are people and there is no excuse for discrimination.
