Jackson Free Press

The Human Rights Campaign issued the following verbatim news release:

Bay St. Louis, MS Passes Pro-LGBT Measure

Sixth Mississippi city to pass measure recognizing the role LGBT people play in thriving communities

WASHINGTON – Tonight, Bay St. Louis, Mississippi passed a measure, 7-0, recognizing the dignity and worth of all city residents - including those who are lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT). Bay St. Louis joins five other Mississippi cities – Starkville, Hattiesburg, Greenville, Magnolia and Oxford – which all passed similar actions earlier this year.

“Like so many cities across America, Bay St. Louis, Mississippi has made clear that all its residents deserve to be treated with dignity, respect and equality, regardless of who they are or who they love,” said Human Rights Campaign (HRC) President Chad Griffin. “Today the Bay St. Louis city leadership proudly affirmed the city’s support for the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender community, and moved Mississippi forward on the road to equality.”

Public opinion on equality in Mississippi is far ahead of law in the state. A poll conducted last summer found that nearly 60 percent of Mississippians under the age of 30 support marriage equality, while 64 percent of residents back workplace non-discrimination protections for LGBT employees.

The action comes less than two weeks after HRC launched Project One America, an unprecedented effort to dramatically expand LGBT equality in Arkansas, Mississippi and Alabama. HRC is making a deep and lasting $8.5 million investment concentrated in these three states.

The community-based program focuses on building lasting LGBT presence and infrastructure. A full time local staff and dedicated office space will support this effort. HRC is committed to Project One America and Mississippi for the long haul.

For details on Project One America in Mississippi, visit www.hrc.org/states/mississippi

The Human Rights Campaign is America’s largest civil rights organization working to achieve lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender equality. By inspiring and engaging all Americans, HRC strives to end discrimination against LGBT citizens and realize a nation that achieves fundamental fairness and equality for all.

WLBT is reporting that that a Jackson State University bus carrying the school's baseball team caught fire near Birmingham, Alabama.

The fired occurred at I-20/59 Northbound at Allison-Bonnett Memorial Drive, about 15 minutes west of Birmingham; JSU is scheduled to play Savannah State Tuesday, the news station reports.

WLBT said School officials say that everyone got off the bus okay, and no one was injured.

Pictures on news site's homepage show a completely charred charter bus.

Duling Hall and new releases...