U.S. NewsHuman Rights

Actions

SCOTUS Declines To Hear 2 Cases Tied To Religion, LGBTQ Rights

The Supreme Court has declined to hear two cases in Mississippi linked to the LGBTQ community and to religion.
Posted
and last updated

The U.S. Supreme Court has declined to hear two cases relating to a Mississippi law tied to religion and same-sex marriage.

The "Protecting Freedom of Conscience from Government Discrimination Law" lets some businesses and government employees cite their religious beliefs for not serving same-sex couples or not recognizing same-sex marriages.

But provisions in the law require valid marriage licenses to be authorized, even if a clerk recuses him or herself.

Critics of the law argue it leaves room for discrimination against the LGBTQ community. 

Monday's decision by the high court comes after a lower court dismissed the case; it ruled  the plaintiffs hadn't yet been denied service. The lower court also left open the option for another challenge in the future.

Additional reporting from Newsy affiliate CNN.