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The gay rights advocacy group, GetEQUAL has issued a travel advisory for the LGBT community in response to Senate Bill 2681, which proponents have called the “Mississippi Religious Freedom Restoration Act.” Passed unanimously by the state Senate, it’s heading for the house where it is expected to pass.

The bill is similar to a bill passed by the Arizona legislature last month. The Arizona bill became a national hot potato as civil rights activists and business groups lobbied Gov. Jan Brewer (R) to veto the legislation, which she did last week. But in Mississippi, Gov. Phil Bryant (R) is unlikely to succumb to that kind of pressure.

The advisory issued to gay and lesbian travelers should draw some attention to the legislation which stipulates that state law “shall not substantially burden a person’s right to exercise [freedom] of religion” without a “compelling governmental interest.” This would sanction discrimination against LGBT people in the state.

Zach Magee, an organizer for GetEqual Mississippi, had this to say about the travel advisory:

“This bill is progressing at a very rapid rate, making my beautiful state a potentially dangerous place for anyone perceived as ‘different’ from the right-wing extremists who have crafted this bill. While the LGBT community — including both residents and visitors — will be negatively impacted by this bill, it is also a license to discriminate against any group seen as ‘different,’ including women, racial or ethnic minorities, or immigrants. Religious freedom, in my eyes, does not mean blatant discrimination of any kind — unfortunately, discrimination is a fundamental part of this bill.”

Gay travelers should recall that before it was legal to discriminate, Mississippi was not exactly a safe place for us. Let’s remember gay mayoral candidate, Marco McMillian. Last February 27th, the police found his body next to a levee outside of town, where it had been dumped days earlier. McMillian had been beaten, dragged, and set on fire, according to his family. They wanted his killing investigated as a hate crime but Mississippi does not have hate crimes legislation on the books.

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Carrie Stone