US companies urge Southern US states to repeal anti-LGBT laws

Not only the rights activists but also several US companies executives are making it a priority that southern states reconsider to repeal the controversial anti-LGBT law they have recently passed. The law's measures are being questioned for its usage of religious freedom to deny services on same-sex couples.

According to Daily Mail, officials from ten US companies released a letter on Thursday to the governor of Mississippi, urging him to overturn a law that is said to be discriminatory to gay and transgender individuals. The letter states "Discrimination is wrong, and we believe it has no place in Mississippi or anywhere in our country." It was a joint letter signed by executives from General Electric Co., The Coca-Cola Company, Dow Chemical, Pepsico, Hewlett Packard, Levi Strauss, Whole Foods Market, and the Hyatt and Choice Hotel chains.

Daily Star said the Human Rights Campaign released the letter as it is in their measures to challenge several states that condone and discriminate the rights of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people. Supporters of the law, however, defend the Mississippi law as it protects the state people, employees, businesses, and religious organizations to deny services such as marriage by citing religious beliefs as a probable reason. This is said to be a response to the June 2015 ruling of the Supreme Court in legalizing homosexual marriage and it is considered, too, by several conservative governments.

Phil Bryant, governor of Mississippi, acknowledges the law as a government measure that prevents interference in private matters, as written by France24. However, the executives also believe that it will be a way to damage the state's tourism, businesses and economic activity. North Carolina is also facing the same problem after they recently passed a legislation against transgender people.

the Republican Governor of North Carolina, Pat McCrory, already received a letter signed by nearly 100 representatives from different institutions including Apple, Bank of America, Marriott, Starbucks and Facebook, saying the law would have a negative impact to the state. 

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US companies, executives, letter, lgbt people, anti-lgbt, Mississippi, North Carolina, Phil Bryant, Human Rights Campaign, pat mccrory

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