Facing backlash, Indiana to revise “religious freedom” law

Facing backlash, Indiana to revise “religious freedom” law

Legislative leaders declare their governor has not answered questions clearly.

Indiana’s highest-ranking Republican law makers will advocate for a revision to the state’s controversial “religious freedom” law. The proposed edits follow a rash of national retaliation to Indiana’s newest law.

Athletes, major corporations, gay rights advocates and celebrities and have assailed Indiana governor and legislature for their approval of Senate Bill 101, a so-called “religious freedom” law that – according to gay-rights opponents as well as social conservatives – could allow companies to deny services based on an individual’s sexual preference. An example, they say, would be an anti-gay photographer who could refuse to shoot a gay wedding if that person deemed the event to threaten his or her religious beliefs.

The Speaker of the Indiana House of Representatives, Brian Bosma, said such a scenario was not the intention of the bill. He said the law is not supposed to deny “services to any Hoosier. It doesn’t do that.” Governor Mike Pence, who signed the legislation into law last week, has said it was not meant to promote discrimination.

In the four remaining weeks of the legislative session, Bosma and Senate President Pro Tem David Long said they will “encourage” their colleagues to approve a revision to the law to address the issue. They have both said critics, as well as supporters, have not accurately characterized how the bill would affect lesbians and gays.

How and if that community would be afflicted has not been clear. In an interview with ABC News, Pence avoided direct answers to questions about service denial to gays and lesbians on religious grounds. Later, in a press conference called in response, Bosma said his gubernatorial colleague “did not answer questions clearly,” said Bosma.

In response to the bill’s passage into law, major corporations and national groups have called for boycotts of Indiana. Angie’s List, a crowd-sourced review website, said it would cancel a $40 million expansion of its headquarters in Indianapolis, which would have brought 1,000 jobs into the state. The Disciples of Christ announced it would cancel it annual conference there, as would the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees.

Be social, please share!

Facebooktwittergoogle_plusredditpinterestlinkedintumblrmail