Mississippi
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Cindy Hyde-Smith (R) |
Trent Kelly (R) Bennie Thompson (D) Michael Guest (R) Mike Ezell (R) |
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Mississippi Mississippi is a state in the southeastern region of the United States, bordered to the north by Tennessee, to the east by Alabama, to the south by the Gulf of Mexico, to the southwest by Louisiana, and to the northwest by Arkansas. Mississippi's western boundary is largely defined by the Mississippi River. It is the 32nd largest and 35th most populous of the 50 U.S. states and has the lowest per capita income in the United States. Jackson is both the state's capital and largest city. Greater Jackson constitutes the state's most populous metropolitan area, with a population of 591,978 in 2020.
On December 10, 1817, Mississippi became the 20th state admitted to the Union. By 1860, it was the nation's leading cotton-producing state, with slaves accounting for 55% of the population. Mississippi declared its secession from the Union on January 9, 1861, and was one of the seven original Confederate States, which were the largest slaveholding states in the nation. It was restored to the Union after the Civil War on February 23, 1870.
Until the Great Migration of the 1930s, African Americans made up most of Mississippi's population. In 2010, 37.3% of Mississippi's population was African American, the highest percentage of any state. Mississippi was the site of many significant events during the civil rights movement, including the Ole Miss riot of 1962 by white students opposing desegregation, the 1963 assassination of Medgar Evers, and the 1964 Freedom Summer murders of three activists working on voting rights.
Mississippi often ranks low among U.S. states in health, education, and development metrics, while ranking high in poverty rates. The primary economic industries in Mississippi today are agriculture and forestry. Mississippi produces over half of the nation's farm-raised catfish and is also a leading producer of sweet potatoes, cotton, and pulpwood. Other significant industries in Mississippi include advanced manufacturing, utilities, transportation, and health services.
Mississippi is predominantly situated within the Gulf coastal plain and typically consists of lowland plains and rolling hills. The northwestern portion of the state is home to the Mississippi Delta, part of the Mississippi Alluvial Plain. The highest point in Mississippi is Woodall Mountain, which rises to 807 feet (246 m) above sea level near the Cumberland Plateau, while the lowest point is at the Gulf of Mexico. The state has a humid subtropical climate classification.
Etymology
The state's name originates from the Mississippi River, which runs alongside and marks its western border. European-American settlers called it after the Ojibwe term ᒥᓯ-ᓰᐱ misi-ziibi (English: Great river).
Attitudes toward the LGBTQ+ community in Mississippi
Attitudes toward LGBTQ+ individuals in Mississippi are shaped by a combination of limited legal protections, conservative public opinion, and challenges faced by LGBTQ+ youth.
- Public Opinion
Mississippi has historically shown lower support for LGBTQ+ rights compared to national averages. However, recent trends indicate a gradual shift. According to a 2023 Public Religion Research Institute (PRRI) poll, 50% of Mississippi residents supported same-sex marriage, while 46% opposed it. This marks an increase from 44% support in 2021 and 37% in 2016.
- Legal Protections and Legislation
Nondiscrimination Laws: Mississippi lacks comprehensive statewide protections against discrimination based on sexual orientation or gender identity in employment, housing, and public accommodations. Only about 6% of the state's population is covered by local ordinances that provide such protections.
- Religious Exemptions: The "Protecting Freedom of Conscience from Government Discrimination Act" (HB 1523), enacted in 2016, permits individuals and businesses to refuse services to LGBTQ+ individuals based on religious beliefs.
- Transgender Rights
In 2023, Mississippi banned gender-affirming healthcare for minors.
- The state prohibits transgender students from participating in sports teams that align with their gender identity.
- In 2024, the "Securing Areas for Females Effectively and Responsibly Act" (SAFER Act) was signed into law, requiring individuals in public schools to use facilities corresponding to their sex assigned at birth.
- LGBTQ+ Youth Experiences
LGBTQ+ youth in Mississippi face significant challenges:
According to The Trevor Project's 2024 survey, 72% of LGBTQ+ youth reported experiencing symptoms of anxiety, and 59% reported symptoms of depression. Among transgender and nonbinary youth, these figures were higher, with 79% reporting anxiety and 61% reporting depression.
The same survey found that 71% of LGBTQ+ youth who wanted mental health care were unable to access it, citing reasons such as affordability, fear of discussing mental health concerns, and worries about being understood.
GLSEN's 2021 National School Climate Survey indicated that Mississippi schools were not safe for most LGBTQ+ secondary school students, with many lacking access to supportive resources.
Recent Legislative Actions Mississippi has enacted several laws impacting the LGBTQ+ community:
- In 2023, the state banned gender-affirming healthcare for minors.
- The SAFER Act, signed in 2024, mandates that individuals in public schools use facilities corresponding to their sex assigned at birth.
In 2025, the Mississippi Supreme Court ruled that a transgender teen could not legally change his name until he turned 21, despite parental support, citing a "lack of maturity".
- Conclusion
While signs of shifting public opinion indicate greater acceptance of LGBTQ+ individuals in Mississippi, the state still presents significant legal and social challenges for the community. Advocacy and support efforts continue to be crucial for advancing LGBTQ+ rights and well-being in the state.
History of the Mississippi Flag
The Mississippi State Flag is divided into three equal-sized horizontal stripes of blue, white, and red. The canton of the flag features the Confederate battle flag, which is surrounded by a white border. The Confederate flag pays homage to the state's history as a Confederate state. There is growing pressure on Mississippi's leaders to adopt a new flag that does not include the Confederate battle flag design, since this emblem is interpreted by many as representing slavery and inequality. Mississippi is currently the only U.S. state to feature the Confederate battle flag; the last state was Georgia, which redesigned its flag to omit this symbol in 2001. The current Mississippi State Flag was adopted on April 23rd, 1894.
In 2001, Governor Ronnie Musgrove commissioned the design of a new flag, which was put to a referendum vote by the people of Mississippi. The proposed flag was similar to the current Mississippi flag, but the Confederate battle flag was replaced with a blue canton featuring 20 stars. The stars were arranged in a pattern to represent the 13 colonies, along with the six nations that have ruled over Mississippi. The final star represented Mississippi, and the total of 20 stars signified that Mississippi was the 20th member state of the United States. An election was held, and the voters in Mississippi chose to keep the current design.
In 2015, there was a mass shooting at a church in Charleston, SC, by a white supremacist who attacked and killed Black Americans. The killer shared photographs on social media of himself with the Confederate battle flag. This renewed controversy over Mississippi's state flag. In the wake of the 2015 Charleston, South Carolina, church shooting, the University of Mississippi took down the flag due to its symbolism, and today, every public university in Mississippi has permanently retired the flag.
In 2014, Laurin Stennis, an artist and granddaughter of a former Senator from Mississippi, created a proposal for a new design featuring a tricolor pattern of red, white, and blue, with 20 blue stars in the center. The significance of the stars on this flag is similar to the star pattern on the 2015 version, while the red stripes represent the bloodshed by Mississippians during various wars. Notably, Stennis's design does not pay homage to any Confederate flag, whereas the 2015 proposal was similar in design to the first Confederate flag (the Stars and Bars Flag). There are currently no plans by the state's leaders to change the flag.
Mississippi is located in the Southern region of the United States of America. It shares borders with Tennessee, Alabama, Louisiana, and the Gulf of Mexico. The capital city is Jackson. Mississippi is also known as "The Magnolia State" due to the prevalence of magnolia plants in the state; the magnolia is also the state flower. Mississippi's name is derived from the Ojibwa word "misi-zibi," which translates as "Great river" or "Gathering of water."
The first inhabitants of Mississippi were Native American tribes and Paleo-Indians who were hunter-gatherers. The main tribes included the Chickasaw, Choctaw, Natchez, as well as the Yazoo and Biloxi. The first European to visit the area was Spanish explorer Hernando de Soto in 1540 on his second journey to find the New World. He was also the first European to reach the Mississippi River, which he named "Rio Del Espiritu Santo," which translates as "River of the Holy Spirit." Hernando de Soto claimed the area for Spain. A century later, French explorer La Salle claimed the area for France, and in 1699, the French established the first European settlement at Fort Maurepas. During the 18th century, Mississippi was ruled by the Spanish, English, and the French. During this time, many slaves were imported to the area by the Europeans. Following the French and Indian War, the British gained control of the area until 1798, when it became a territory of the United States of America. The city of Natchez was originally the capital of Mississippi until it was renamed in 1822 to Jackson. On December 10th, 1817, Mississippi officially became the 20th state of the United States of America.
Mississippi is home to the famous Mississippi River, which is the largest river in the United States of America and one of the major river systems in the world. The river crosses ten states, including Minnesota, Wisconsin, Iowa, Illinois, Missouri, Kentucky, Tennessee, Arkansas, Mississippi, and Louisiana, and is often referred to as "Old Man River."
External links
- Wikipedia article: Mississippi
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