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'Religious Freedom' Bills Causing Controversy

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JACKSON, Miss. (CBSMiami) – The fight over religious freedom making headlines in two states. A major project in North Carolina is being pulled over while Mississippi sees a measure of its own become law.

"You're discriminating, that's what you are doing," a protester yelled. "You call it religious whatever you want to, but you ought to be ashamed of yourself."

Mississippi Gov. Phil Bryant  passed House Bill 1523 which addresses three points.

It states marriage is between a man and a woman, sex is reserved for marriage and a person's sex is determined at birth.

Protesters say it amounts to state sponsored discrimination.

"I'm going to have a hysterectomy, so I may not be able to have kids, so I want to adopt and I want to adopt with my girlfriend and so it just kind of touches all the personal spots it shouldn't," said protester Marissa Cook.

"Love has no limits, and no matter who we love. We should still be treated equally," said another protester, Bonita Washington.

Other states have considered similar legislation. North Carolina enacted a law, while governors in Georgia and South Dakota vetoed proposals.

Georgia Gov. Nathan Deal vetoed a religious liberty law allowing religious organizations to deny jobs and services to members of the " community.

And in North Carolina, PayPal is no pal of a new bathroom law requiring transgender people use the public bathroom related to the gender of their birth.

It means people like Candis Cox will now be required to use the men's room.

"This law affects us because it puts us in danger and because it's open discrimination. It's no different than the Jim Crow laws that we had here in the South," Cox said.

Cox and her husband worry she'll be physically assaulted while using the men's room.

And with companies like PayPal staying away, southern states may see an economic backlash.

"Businesses like Nissan, Toyota, Levi's, several casinos, Mass Mutual Insurance, Tyson Foods...they've all come out against the bill," said protester Knol Aust.

These bills come nearly a week after a federal judge issued a final judgment declaring that Florida's voter-approved prohibition against gay marriage is unconstitutional.

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