Religious Freedom Versus Gay Rights in Indiana

With the bold statement "Fix This Now," Indiana’s largest newspaper condemned the state’s new Religious Freedom Law.
In an editorial on the front page today – The Indianapolis Star called for the state to extend protected status to gays and lesbians.. saying religious freedoms and those protections can ‘co-exist’.

(Cheering)

Monday night, residents of Indianapolis cheered as the city council adopted a resolution opposing the law.
Republican Governor Mike Pence signed the Religious Freedom Restoration Act on Thursday.
It allows people to conduct business based on their religious belief.
But, opponents fear it’ll lead to discrimination against gays and lesbians.

Zach Adamson – Indianapolis Council Member says It is not a true representation of our state… It will detour businesses… and top Talent.

With public pressure rising, Governor Pence penned an Op-Ed in today’s Wall Street Journal, writing "I abhor discrimination" and quote "the law is not a ‘license to discriminate."
Some state republicans are now working to add language to law saying it’s being misinterpreted.

David Long/R-Indiana Senate President Pro Tem) "I think we’re reacting to an obvious misconception about what the law does"

Supporters say the measure mirrors a federal law signed by President Clinton in 19-93.
The Governors of Connecticut and Washington have now banned state employees from traveling to Indiana because of the law.
Mayors of major cities have also done the same.
Don Champion, CBS News, New York.

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Think Progress. org

Despite initial optimism that Georgia’s discriminatory “Religious Freedom Restoration Act” (RFRA) had been sufficiently halted in committee on Thursday, activists worry that it could still be revived during the last week of the legislative session. The House Judicial Committee could restore SB 129 to its pre-amended form and advance it, or the RFRA could be tacked onto another pending bill.

Georgia’s businesses have been oddly silent on the bill, despite mounting pressure from an organized Stop SB 129 social media campaign and a fomenting backlash against Indiana’s similar law. With its proponents now on record testifying that circumventing nondiscrimination laws is essential to the bill, however, a few more businesses are speaking out.

Read the Article

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The Peach Pundit

This is clearly RFRA Day on Peach Pundit.  Jon and Charlie have given you their perspective.  Let me now give you my additional thoughts and offer specific language for the General Assembly to consider in the waning hours of this year’s session, and why it important for the Republican Party and  Georgia to wed together Religious Liberty and Civil Rights.

As Charlie noted, it is perhaps ironic that in the midst of Holy Week for my fellow Christians that the Georgia General Assembly is closing out the 2016 session with one of the hottest remaining topics being the possible passage of a Georgia Religious Freedom And Restoration Act (“RFRA”). Today’s hearing has been cancelled but the debate is likely to continue until Sine Die on Thursday.  Should Georgia pass this bill, and, if so, should it also include language recognizing civil rights legislation as a critical state and local government interest?

As we have previously discussed here and here on Peach Pundit, I believe the answer is yes and yes. The recent activities in two other states – Indiana and Texas – highlight the practical political importance of including anti-discrimination protection in a state RFRA.

As pointed out by Jon, Indiana passed its version of RFRA recently and Republican Governor Mike Pence signed the bill into law last week. The Indiana Legislature originally stubbornly refused to include anti-discrimination language in its bill. Governor Pence, however, in reaction to a growing firestorm of criticism this weekend has already called for a new bill “clarifying the intent of the law.”  This morning Indiana legislative leaders, including the Indiana Speaker and the Senate President Pro Tempore, pledged to do the same.

Read more here

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Action Alert from David Fowler’s Family Action of Tennessee predicting the debate will come here next year.

A battle is being fought right now to protect religious liberty in Tennessee. It just so happens that it’s being fought in Indiana, but here’s why that’s important to you—the outcome will reverberate in Tennessee’s legislature next year.
The Context
Indiana has passed a Religious Freedom Restoration Act that contains some provisions we need to have in our Tennessee law.

Indiana’s Governor and legislative leaders are facing hysterical reactions from homosexual political activists who are trying to get them to change or repeal the law. It is the same kind of reaction our legislators will experience when they are eventually asked to take action here.
If Indiana caves to the hyperbole and hysteria, then it will embolden the same anti-religious crowd to apply the same tactics in Tennessee.
What We Can Do
Because people from all over the country are pressuring Indiana’s leadership to repeal or change law, it is more than appropriate that we add our voices in support of the law.
In helping Indiana’s Governor and legislative leaders stand strong, you will be helping our own Governor and legislators stand strong when our time comes.
Please take just a few minutes to call the leaders below. The message is short and simple: "I support the religious freedom law your state passed."
Call These Indiana State Legislators Now
Governor Mike Pence 317-232-4567
House Speaker Brian Bosma 317-232-9677
Senate President David Long 317-232-9416
Is you religious liberty in Tennessee worth making those three quick calls? I sure hope so.

David Fowler

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