A federal judge has blocked a Mississippi law that would let merchants and government employees cite religious beliefs in denying or delaying services to same-sex couples. U.S. District Judge Carlton Reeves filed orders in two lawsuits blocking the law just moments before it was to take effect Friday. State attorneys argued that the law provides reasonable accommodations for people with deeply held religious beliefs that gay marriage is wrong. Reeves wrote that the law is unconstitutional because "the state has put its thumb on the scale to favor some religious beliefs over others." "There is nothing new or controversial about that section," Reeves wrote.

Source: Fox News July 01, 2016 06:00 UTC