Judge Reeves Strikes Down HB 1523 in Mississippi! 

U.S. District Court Judge Carlton Reeves issued a ruling striking down HB 1523, the nation’s most sweeping anti-LGBT law, which was scheduled to go into effect across Mississippi on July 1.

“In striking down HB 1523, the Court enforced the fundamental constitutional principle that the government cannot establish any religion. As a result, Mississippi will no longer be permitted to favor some ‘religious beliefs’ over others, and the civil rights of LGBT Mississippians will not be subordinated to the religious beliefs of only certain religious groups,” says Roberta Kaplan, lead counsel for the Campaign for Southern Equality.

District Reeves struck down HB 1523 for violating the First and Fourteenth Amendments to the United States Constitution. He found that it violates the Equal Protection Clause of the Fourteenth Amendment because it was passed for the sole purpose of “put[ting] LGBT citizens back in their place after” the Supreme Court recognized their right to marry last summer.

He also found that it violates the Establishment Clause of the First Amendment, which requires separation between Church and State, in two ways. First, HB 1523 makes special rights available to some religious groups, like Baptists and Catholics, but not to others, like Episcopalians and Unitarians. And second, It violates Supreme Court cases holding that a religious accommodation cannot cause harm to others–HB 1523’s “broad religious exemption comes at the expense of other citizens.”

The full 60-page order from Judge Reeves can be read at: www.southernequality.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/07/CSE-v-Barber-Order.pdf

In enjoining HB 1523, the Court granted the motion for a preliminary injunction brought in Campaign for Southern Equality v. Bryant, or “CSE III,” which was argued by lead counsel, Roberta Kaplan of Paul, Weiss, Rifkind, Wharton & Garrison LLP.

“I am grateful that the court has blocked this divisive law. As a member of the LGBT community and as minister of the Gospel, I am thankful that justice prevailed,” says Rev. Susan Hrostowski, an Episcopal priest who is a plaintiff in the case and resident of Hattiesburg, Mississippi.

Fighting back against HB2

This law is a blatant attack on the LGBT community – and it’s one of the worst anti-LGBT laws on the books in the country. Check out this powerful op-ed from Ivy Gibson-Hill in the Mountain Xpress: “Yes, these can be complex concepts. Yes, you’ll fumble over pronouns and make mistakes. Yes, it’s not always going to be comfortable. But we have a responsibility as a community to show up for each other and to speak up when someone is in danger.”

All Gender Restroom Signs to Asheville Businesses

The Campaign for Southern Equality is partnering with Tranzmission to provide All-Gender Restroom signs to Asheville businesses, non-profits and faith communities that would like to show support for the LGB, and especially, the Transgender community. Thank you to the growing number of businesses and organizations in Asheville that have already pro-actively taken this step. Want a sign? Just email Ivy Hill (ivy[at]southernequality.org) with your name, organization/business name, phone number and organization/business address.

Western North Carolina Trans Support Line

North Carolina feels like a scary place for trans and LGB folks right now. We want to be sure everybody can easily access the resources they need in this time. That’s why we’re launching the Western North Carolina Trans Support Line. We’re offering help locating local support groups, mental health resources, attorneys, community events, trans health information, and peer counseling. Call (828) 237-1323 if you need support or help finding local trans friendly resources. We are working to beat HB2, but more importantly we want to send a clear message to trans North Carolinians: you are not alone, and we have your back.

Legal Challenge Filed Against SB2, North Carolina “Magistrate Recusal” Law

Six plaintiffs have filed a federal lawsuit challenging Senate Bill 2, the North Carolina law passed in defiance of federal court orders that struck down Amendment One and declared that marriage is a fundamental right for gay and lesbian citizens. Senate Bill 2 allows magistrates who do not believe in marriage equality to renounce their judicial oath to uphold and evenly apply the United States Constitution. The plaintiffs are represented by Tin Fulton Walker & Owen, a Charlotte-based law firm that led the legal challenge that struck down Amendment One, and by Meghann Burke, of Asheville-based firm Brazil & Burke. The Campaign for Southern Equality, along with Equality NC, is coordinating the public education campaign accompanying the case. “This law distorts the true meaning of religious freedom. From the day it was proposed, it was clear that SB2 is about one thing and one thing only – finding a new way to discriminate against same-sex couples. We will keep standing up to discrimination until LGBT people are equal in every sphere of life,” says Rev. Jasmine Beach-Ferrara, executive director of the Campaign for Southern Equality.