Seattle Mayor and Gov. Jay Inslee Bans Offical Travel to Mississippi

Washington governor bans state travel to Mississippi

OLYMPIA, Wash. (AP) — Washington Gov. Jay Inslee has joined the Seattle mayor in banning official travel to Mississippi due to the state's new law allowing religious groups and some private businesses to refuse service to gay couples based on beliefs.

Inslee on Tuesday barred anything but essential travel to Mississippi on the public's dime.

He says the new law authorizes discrimination against lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender individuals including Washington residents who travel there. Inslee says it's the law of Washington state and the policy of his administration to demand equality for all persons.

The Mississippi measure's stated intention is to protect those who believe that marriage should be between one man and one woman, that sexual relations should only take place inside such marriages, and that male and female genders are unchangeable

SEATTLE (AP) — Seattle's mayor has barred the use of city funds for employee travel to Mississippi after their governor signed a law allowing religious groups and some private businesses to refuse service to gay couples based on beliefs.

Mayor Ed Murray signed the executive order Tuesday. He signed a similar order last week banning travel to North Carolina and said he'd continue to act if other states go this route.

Murray says the city of Seattle will not stand by idly while discriminatory laws are enacted because such laws stand to threaten equity victories in Seattle and elsewhere.

The Mississippi measure's stated intention is to protect those who believe that marriage should be between one man and one woman, that sexual relations should only take place inside such marriages, and that male and female genders are unchangeable.