Mississippi gay marriage law remains blocked during appeal

Jackson, Miss. (AP) — Mississippi's law on religious objections to same-sex marriage will remain blocked while the governor appeals a judge's ruling that the law is unconstitutional.

The 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals said Friday that it would not immediately remove the block that U.S. District Judge Carlton Reeves put on House Bill 1523 moments before it was to become law July 1.

The Republican-led Legislature passed the bill this year in response to the 2015 Supreme Court ruling that legalized gay marriage nationwide. It sought to protect three beliefs: That marriage is only between a man and a woman; that sex should only take place in such a marriage; and that a person's gender is determined at birth and cannot be altered.

Republican Gov. Phil Bryant is seeking to overturn Reeves' ruling.

By Emily Wagster Pettus, Associated Press. Copyright 2016 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

The Gayly – August 12, 2016 @ 2:45 p.m.