News (USA)

Indiana officials, businesses scramble to stem ‘religious freedom’ law fallout

Indiana officials, businesses scramble to stem ‘religious freedom’ law fallout
Gov. Mike Pence (R-Ind.)
Gov. Mike Pence (R-Ind.) AP

INDIANAPOLIS — The heat over Indiana’s new religious objections law spread Friday across social media and to the White House as many local officials and business groups around the state tried to jump in and stem the fallout.

Use of the hashtag #boycottindiana spread across Twitter, spurred on by activists such as “Star Trek” actor George Takei, who argued that the measure opens the door to legalized discrimination against LGBT people.

Apple CEO Tim Cook also tweeted his objections, saying he was “deeply disappointed” in the Indiana law.

Supporters of the bill that Republican Gov. Mike Pence signed Thursday say discrimination claims are overblown. They maintain courts haven’t allowed that to happen under similar laws covering the federal government and in 19 other states.

The measure, which takes effect in July, prohibits state and local laws that “substantially burden” the ability of people – including businesses and associations – to follow their religious beliefs.

Article continues below

Some national LGBT rights groups say lawmakers in Indiana and about a dozen other states proposed such bills this year as a way to essentially grant a state-sanctioned waiver for discrimination as the nation’s highest court prepares to mull the same-sex marriage question.

White House press secretary Josh Earnest on Friday noted the negative reaction to the Indiana law from many businesses and organizations around the country.

“The signing of this bill doesn’t seem like it’s a step in the direction of equality and justice and liberty for all Americans,” he said.

Continue reading

Stickers touting "This business serves everyone" have been appearing on business windows in many Indiana cities.
Stickers touting “This business serves everyone” have been appearing on business windows in many Indiana cities. Michael Conroy, AP

[ Previous ]

The Arkansas Senate approved a similar proposal on Friday despite opposition from home-state retail giant Walmart. Another measure stalled Thursday in the Georgia Legislature after opponents cited the fallout over the Indiana law.

Indianapolis Mayor Greg Ballard, a Republican who opposed the law, said he and other city officials would be talking to many businesses and convention planners to counter the uproar the law has caused.

“I’m more concerned about making sure that everyone knows they can come in here and feel welcome,” Ballard said. “That’s what I’m mostly concerned about.”

Groups such as the Indiana Chamber of Commerce have taken to social media with messages that the state is full of welcoming businesses. Democratic South Bend Mayor Pete Buttigieg touted on Twitter his city’s civil rights ordinance’s protections for gays and lesbians, while Republican Evansville Mayor Lloyd Winnecke wrote that the law “sends the wrong message about Indiana.”

Stickers touting “This business serves everyone” have been appearing on business windows in many Indiana cities.

Article continues below

Pence, after signing the bill Thursday, said opponents had been mischaracterizing the measure and that it was solely a limit on government restricting people’s religious liberties.

Last year, Mississippi enacted a religious objection law just weeks after Arizona Gov. Jan Brewer, a Republican, vetoed a similar effort there amid criticism from major corporations. Mississippi hasn’t had any high-profile instances of the law being used by businesses to deny goods or services to gays.

Continue reading

Indiana governor Mike Pence (seated) at a private ceremony to sign a religious freedom bill into law, Thursday, March 26, 2015.
Indiana governor Mike Pence (seated) at a private ceremony to sign a religious freedom bill into law, Thursday, March 26, 2015. Indiana governor's office

[ Previous ]

Indiana University law professor Daniel Conkle, who testified in favor of the bill in Indiana legislative committees, said he was a supporter of gay rights and that the predictions of negative implications from the law were unjustified.

Conkle, who has written extensively on religious legal issues, said he didn’t know of any cases under the similar state laws or the federal statute, which dates to 1993, where a court had sided with a religious objector in a discrimination case.

“This ‘license-to-discriminate’ argument that seems to have this relentless repetition is just legally wrong,” Conkle said Friday. “It is as if you just keep repeating something often enough it takes on a life of its own.”

Article continues below

Chris Gahl, a vice president of Visit Indy, said the tourism agency was pointing out to convention planners that cities such as Chicago, New Orleans and St. Louis are in states that already have such religious objections laws.

That’s part of protecting city’s tourism and convention business, which is estimated to have a $4.4 billion annual economic impact with some 75,000 jobs.

“We know that their ability to work is largely dependent on our ability to score convention business and draw in events and visitors,” Gahl said.

© 2015, Associated Press, All Rights Reserved.
This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Don't forget to share:

Support vital LGBTQ+ journalism

Reader contributions help keep LGBTQ Nation free, so that queer people get the news they need, with stories that mainstream media often leaves out. Can you contribute today?

Cancel anytime · Proudly LGBTQ+ owned and operated

Rand Paul: Same-sex marriage is the result of a ‘moral crisis’ in America

Previous article

Virginia school board restricts restroom use for transgender elementary student

Next article