Mississippi HB 1523. The Religious Freedom Bill, or the Religious Accommodations Bill, whatever you want to call it. A bill that makes it legal to discriminate against people because of personal religious beliefs, no matter what they are.

A brief introduction on myself: I am an extremely conservative Republican on most matters. I am very thankful for my Christian upbringing and my place in the church. Being a Christian, I believe that we should love all people, no matter what. I don't judge others; it isn't my place to.

Disclaimer: I do not believe that a preacher or other officer in the church should be required to do something on the behalf of the church that goes against what they believe.

Back on subject, this bill allows for people to be discriminated upon because of religious beliefs, and it mostly targets the LGBT community. An employer can deny a job to someone if they are gay, atheist, even so far as to if they are a female wearing pants. A company can deny any pubic service or good to a gay couple. A landlord can deny offering rent to an interracial couple, as we have already seen within this past week. A gay couple can be denied rights to adopt a child because their beliefs don't coincide with the adoption agency. A doctor can deny medical services to someone who disagrees with him or her religiously. All of these things, which should be basic human rights, can be taken away because someone disagrees with someone else on the way things should be done and the way people should live their lives.

Many people think all Christians support this bill and are pleased with it. I, however, am not. I work with, live with, and serve people who have many different opinions than me. I am in a sorority with girls from all over the country, who were brought up differently than me and see things in a different perspective than I do.

I have always loved people and the human species as a whole. We were all wonderfully built and put on this world for a reason- and to deny other people anything because they are different than you in is a lack of respect for people as a whole.

I hope this bill does not encourage people to treat others the way that it is allowing to. HB 1523 is a bill that, I hope, one day Mississippians will regret making a law.

1 John 4:19-21: We love because he first loved us. If anyone says, “I love God,” and hates his brother, he is a liar; for he who does not love his brother whom he has seen cannot love God whom he has not seen. And this commandment we have from him: whoever loves God must also love his brother.

John 13:34: A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another: just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another.

Just because someone is different, doesn't make them wrong.