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 The measure also clears the way for employers to cite religion in
determining workplace policies on dress code, grooming and bathroom
and locker access, drawing criticism from civil rights leaders.
Bryant, a Republican, said in a statement he signed the law "to
protect sincerely held religious beliefs and moral convictions of
individuals, organizations and private associations from
discriminatory action by state government."
Mississippi is the latest state drawing national protest for a law
seen as anti-lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT). North
Carolina recently barred transgender people from choosing bathrooms
consistent with their gender identity.
Tennessee is considering similar legislation related to school
bathrooms, and civil rights groups are watching a Missouri measure
seen as discriminatory. Last week, the governors of Georgia and
Virginia vetoed "religious liberty" bills.
The latest wave of measures, pushed by social conservatives, came
after a U.S. Supreme Court ruling last year that legalized same-sex
marriage.
The American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) criticized the Mississippi
law, which is expected to take effect in July.
"This is a sad day for the state of Mississippi and for the
thousands of Mississippians who can now be turned away from
businesses, refused marriage licenses, or denied housing, essential
services and needed care based on who they are," said Jennifer
Riley-Collins, executive director of the ACLU of Mississippi, in a
statement.
New York Governor Andrew Cuomo responded by banning all
non-essential state travel to Mississippi.
"We will continue to reject the politics of division and exclusion.
This Mississippi law is a sad, hateful injustice," Cuomo said in a
statement.
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The ACLU, which is involved in a federal lawsuit challenging the
North Carolina law, said it was considering its next steps in
Mississippi.
Major U.S. companies have pushed back against such legislation, with
the North Carolina law opposed by Apple Inc, Twitter Inc, Alphabet
Inc and others.
On Tuesday, PayPal Holdings Inc canceled plans to open a global
operations center in Charlotte, North Carolina and invest $3.6
million locally.
In Mississippi, critics included large employers such as Nissan
North America and MGM Resorts International.
Still, nearly two-thirds of Mississippi voters supported the law,
according to a poll highlighted on Tuesday by the Family Research
Council, an influential Christian lobbying group.
(Reporting by Letitia Stein; Editing by David Gregorio and Richard
Chang)
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