Several states have come under fire from celebrities lately for passing anti-LGBT “religious freedom” bills that allows for businesses to discriminate against LGBT citizens. And it looks like Mississippi is the latest state to get a high-profile snub from Hollywood as reports have revealed that Tracy Morgan decided to ditch a stage show in the state over its controversial new bill.
For those that don’t know, anti-LGBT House Bill 1523, also known as the Religious Accommodations Act, was signed into law earlier this month by Mississippi Gov. Phil Bryant. Essentially, the new legislation promises that the state will not punish any businesses that decided to deny service to LGBT customers on the basis that they are religiously opposed to same-sex marriage, extramarital sex or transgender people.
In a Twitter message, Bryant explained that he signed the bill into law “to protect sincerely held religious beliefs and moral convictions … from discriminatory action by state government.”
Although he claimed that the law “does not limit any constitutionally protected rights or actions” or challenge federal law, it’s worth noting that it’s already legal in the state to discriminate against LGBT people on the basis of employment, housing and public accommodations.
Well, like many other celebrities, Morgan isn’t happy about the bill being passed because media reports have revealed that he decided to cancel a performance at Horseshoe Casino in Tunica.
Morgan was originally supposed to appear that the casino as a part of his Picking Up the Pieces stand-up tour. However, he recently released a statement to the press explaining why it was important to him to cancel his appearance over the discriminatory law.
“Tracy did not make this decision lightly. He very much looks forward to rescheduling his tour dates in the area after the ‘Protecting Freedom of Conscience from Government Discrimination Act,’ is either repealed or heavily amended,” the statement read.
What do you think of Morgan’s decision to protest Mississippi’s new law?
