A Mississippi law that protects individuals, businesses, and even government employees who refuse to provide services for gay weddings will go into effect July 1.

The controversial legislation is one example of a spate of so-called “Religious Freedom” laws that carve out legal protections for people who object to gay marriage on religious grounds. The Mississippi law covers a range of professions who don’t want to provide their services to members of the LGBT community, from therapists, to adoption services, and wedding DJs.

Critics of the law say it discriminates against an LGBT minority in an overwhelmingly Christian state. But supporters argue the law is necessary to protect Christians from a rising tide of anti-Christian discrimination and a growing cultural hostility across the United States to personal religious beliefs.