In the hours after Mississippi Governor Phil Bryant signed HB 1523 into law, academics, politicians, celebrities, and companies from all walks of life condemned the action, some even calling for travel bans and boycotts.
The world of academia chimed in with a memo from seven different law professors calling HB 1523 unconstitutional.
"We share the view of Justice Kennedy when he expressed that “a bare . . . desire to harm a politically unpopular group cannot constitute a legitimate governmental interest,” and would add that neither can such a desire be justified in the name of religious liberty," the memo said. "HB 1523 presents a conflict with First Amendment religious freedom doctrine by providing for religious exemptions that will meaningfully harm the rights of others, particularly LGBT Mississippians."
Meanwhile, others took to Twitter to share their disappointment, outrage, and sadness.
New York Governor Andrew Cuomo
This law is a sad, hateful injustice against LGBT community & I will not allow any non-essential official travel to MS until it is repealed.
— Andrew Cuomo (@NYGovCuomo) April 5, 2016
Washington Governor Jay Inslee
New MS law legalizing discrimination is wrong. I will stay vigilant against all efforts to weaken LGBTQ rights in WA https://t.co/wdh3bKr33M
— JayInslee (@JayInslee) April 5, 2016
Democratic House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi
Democratic Leader @NancyPelosi criticizes Mississippi’s "abhorrent new law” targeting LGBT people for discrimination pic.twitter.com/gG9dHDPaoO
— Dominic Holden (@dominicholden) April 5, 2016
Congressman and civil rights leader John Lewis
The hateful new law in Mississippi is plain wrong. Mississippi has a long dark past, and once again it is on the wrong side of history
— John Lewis (@repjohnlewis) April 5, 2016
Jackson City Councilman Tyrone C. Hendrix
The City of Jackson just passed a resolution exclaiming out "commitment to diversity and hospitality" pic.twitter.com/Ld5Tlc7tfh
— Tyrone C. Hendrix (@TyroneHendrix6) April 6, 2016
Mayor Tony Yarber of Jackson
He who is without sin, cast the first stone. As an Black Christian man.. I can NEVER support discrimination https://t.co/IXDBlzQ0qI
— Tony Yarber (@TonyYarber) April 6, 2016
Mississippi native Lance Bass
Way to go @PhilBryantMS @VisitMS !! You did it!! Congrats! #HB1523 pic.twitter.com/mMuFdsNKXf
— Lance Bass (@LanceBass) April 5, 2016
Actress Patricia Arquette
Mississippi just passed #LGBT discriminatory law tell companies in the state how you feel @NissanUSA @Ashleyfurniture @TysonfoodsLIve
— Patricia Arquette (@PattyArquette) April 6, 2016
Salesforce CEO Marc Benioff
Salesforce, @Microsoft, and @IBM stand against @PhilBryantMS and Misssissippi anti-gay laws. https://t.co/OY2raq419L
— Marc Benioff (@Benioff) April 5, 2016
Dow Chemical
Dow is disappointed in the signing of #HB1523. Diversity & inclusion is a business imperative and is quite simply the right thing to do.
— Dow Public Policy (@DowPolicy) April 5, 2016
See more companies and politicians who have taken a stance against HB 1523 here.