The governor of Mississippi has passed a highly controversial anti-LGBT bill, allowing businesses to legally refuse service to gay couples based on their religious beliefs.

In what seems to be proof that the US is actually travelling back in time, the disturbing new bill was signed into law yesterday. This means that now, technically, a gay person living in the state can be refused service in a shop, or even treatment in a hospital, in the name of “religious freedom.”

HB1523 – which has been described as the “most sweeping anti-LGBT legislation” in the country – was passed by governor Phil Bryant; who claimed that it would “protect sincerely held religious beliefs and moral convictions.” He added that it would not limit the rights of citizens under the US Constitution, and was only designed to “prevent government interference in the lives of the people”. See his full statement below:

It’s not the first time the US has sparked controversy for discriminatory law-making. Towards the end of last month, North Carolina passed an equally damning bill; striking down all existing LGBT nondiscrimination statues, and banning transgender people from using some public restrooms. Likewise, a similar “religious liberty” law was nearly passed in Georgia three weeks ago – but was luckily scrapped at the last minute by the state’s Republican governor, Nathan Deal. 

“This bill flies in the face of the basic American principles of fairness, justice and equality and will not protect anyone's religious liberty,” stated the American Civil Liberties Union, after hearing about the Mississippi ruling. “Far from protecting anyone from 'government discrimination' as the bill claims, it is an attack on the citizens of our state, and it will serve as the Magnolia State's badge of shame.”