Video: HB 1523 Co-Author Talks About Controversial Law

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JACKSON, Miss. (WCBI) — A North Mississippi lawmaker who co-wrote House Bill 1523 talks to WCBI about the controversial bill that just became law.

Rep. Randy Boyd co-sponsored the bill that allows individuals and private and religious groups to deny service to LGBT people based on their religion.

Boyd says the bill doesn’t discriminate against anyone, and he’s glad Governor Phil Bryant signed it into law.

“It’s not about discrimination, other than we don’t want the Christians to be discriminated against,” said Boyd, (R) District 19. “If you look back at the bill, it doesn’t stop any process from any of the LGBT groups that want to get married. It doesn’t stop that process. And it only hones down on the one aspect of the marriage ceremony.”

“It’s already so difficult for our development authority and EDF to attract businesses here, to the point where we had to give out $265 million just to get Continental Tire to come, so it defies logic to me why we would put this arrow in the giver of economic development that says, ‘We welcome discrimination in Mississippi,'” said Rep. Jay Hughes, (D) District 12.

Boyd tells WCBI he doesn’t think this new law will hurt the state’s economy.