Governor Dayton Bans State Travel to Mississippi

Minnesota Governor Mark Dayton has instructed all state employees to refrain from any non-essential travel to Mississippi after the governor there signed a law allowing public and private businesses to refuse services to gay couples. 

“This act of discrimination is discriminatory against many Mississippi residents, and violates their Constitutional rights. We cannot allow this injustice to go unanswered. When the rights of some Americans are threatened, it is the responsibility of all Americans to stand in opposition to those discriminatory acts,” said Dayton, “Minnesota has made great progress to protect the rights and dignity of all people in our state. Now, we will do what we can as Minnesotans, to support and defend the rights of others.”  

Lieutenant Governor Tina Smith also issued a statement saying the following: 

“The discriminatory laws passed in North Carolina and Mississippi are not who we are. The Mississippi law undoes years of progress protecting LGBTQ people from discrimination. I strongly support the Governor’s decision to discourage travel to Mississippi until these discriminatory laws are repealed.”  

Dayton recently banned all nonessential state travel to North Carolina after the state’s recently-passed Public Facilities Privacy and Security Act, which limits protections for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people.