Susan's Place Transgender Resources

Community Conversation => Transitioning => Legal Matters => Topic started by: Kylie18 on April 26, 2014, 11:53:53 AM

Title: Mississippi Religious Freedom Restoration Act. AKA LGBT discrimination act
Post by: Kylie18 on April 26, 2014, 11:53:53 AM
I don't know why this law hasn't received national attention. Basically the law allows business owners to legally turn away customers if there presence is a burden to there religion. That means a gay man in with a rainbow flag bracelet could be asked to leave a store.

what worries me is that technically a hospital is a business. Does this new law mean that ER doctors could refuse to treat me because of my transsexual status?
Title: Re: Mississippi Religious Freedom Restoration Act. AKA LGBT discrimination act
Post by: JamesG on April 26, 2014, 02:21:13 PM
Quote from: Kylie18 on April 26, 2014, 11:53:53 AM
I don't know why this law hasn't received national attention.

Because it is Mississippi? ;)

I am torn on this issue.  Yeah discriminating against people is uncool, but so is taking other people's freedom to think, believe, and operate their business the way they want to.  Ideally we'd "all just get along" and operate under the Golden Rule.  Things would be so much better without all these laws and regulations that seem to make things worse as often as they make them better.
Title: Re: Mississippi Religious Freedom Restoration Act. AKA LGBT discrimination act
Post by: tgchar21 on April 26, 2014, 05:14:11 PM
Quote from: Kylie18 on April 26, 2014, 11:53:53 AMDoes this new law mean that ER doctors could refuse to treat me because of my transsexual status?

I think because of "Reagancare (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Emergency_Medical_Treatment_and_Active_Labor_Act)" (formally the Emergency Medical Treatment and Active Labor Act) that's an exception since Federal law supersedes State law.
Title: Re: Mississippi Religious Freedom Restoration Act. AKA LGBT discrimination act
Post by: ReubenIsTheName on April 30, 2014, 08:48:38 AM
Yeah, I live in MS, too, so I'm somewhat worried about how this will affect me. If said business owner realizes that I'm not actually physically a male, trouble could arise. I also wear a rainbow ring and bracelet pretty much 24/7, so that'll help in their deductions, as well xD But, I think it'll be less of a problem than we think because, if they do that, they're losing business, and that means they're losing money. And that'd be stupid to have your business close because you're too much of a bigot. But, then again, this is Mississippi, and common sense is rare enough in other places of the country, let alone here.