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Indiana set to enact religion bill some say discriminates against gay people Indiana enacts religion bill some say discriminates against gay people
(about 5 hours later)
Indiana’s governor, Mike Pence, is expected to sign into law on Thursday a religious objections bill that some convention organizers and business leaders have opposed amid concern it could allow discrimination against gay people. Indiana passed a new law on Thursday that allows those running businesses and associations in the state to refuse service to gay people if they believe that would violate their religious beliefs.
The signing would make Indiana the first state to enact such a change this year among about a dozen where such proposals have been introduced. The measure would prohibit state and local laws that “substantially burden” the ability of people – including businesses and associations – to follow their religious beliefs. State governor Mike Pence signed the Religious Freedom Restoration Act into law during a private ceremony on Thursday morning from which both the public and the media were excluded.
Pence, a Republican, backed the bill as it moved through the legislature and spoke at a statehouse rally last month that drew hundreds of supporters of the proposal. The governor planned to sign the bill in a private ceremony, a Pence spokeswoman, Kara Brooks, said. The law is the first of its kind to be enacted this year, following similar legislation in Mississippi last year and being considered in other states. In Arizona it was vetoed by the governor.
The governor said in a statement this week he believed the measure “is about respecting and reassuring Hoosiers [Indiana residents] that their religious freedoms are intact”. Pence claimed the new legislation would block state and local laws aimed at protecting gays and lesbians against discrimination “that substantially burden” the ability of people, including businesses and associations, to follow their religious beliefs.
In a letter to Pence sent on Wednesday, leaders of the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) warned the legislation was causing them to reconsider plans to hold their 6,000-person general assembly in Indianapolis in 2017. Pence, a Republican, backed the bill as it made its way through the state senate and house of representatives and he addressed a rally last month at the statehouse that attracted hundreds of supporters of the proposal.
The CEO of a gathering of gamers considered to be the city’s largest annual convention also expressed concern about the bill, which the state senate passed on Tuesday. But there has also been strong opposition to the bill and some companies have already declared they will avoid bringing their business to the state while others are considering a boycott.
The expected bill signing comes just more than a week before NCAA men’s Final Four games at Lucas Oil Stadium in downtown Indianapolis, but the college sports organization hasn’t taken a position on the issue. The “final four” of the NCAA men’s college basketball competition is due to be held in Indianapolis on 4 and 6 April. While there is no sign of the tournament pulling out at this late stage, the coincidence of the huge sports event drawing crowds to the event with the passing of the new law drew criticism.
“We are examining the details of this bill. However, the NCAA national office is committed to an inclusive environment where all individuals enjoy equal access to events,” the Indianapolis-based group said in a statement. The NCAA issued a mild rebuke, saying the association was “committed to an inclusive environment where all individuals enjoy equal access to events”.
Supporters say discrimination concerns are overblown because the bill is modeled after a federal religious freedom law Congress passed in 1993 and similar laws are on the books in 19 states. However, the current political climate is far different than it was when most of those were approved because the US supreme court is expected to rule this year on whether gay marriage bans violate the constitution. More explicit criticism had come from retired professional basketball star Jason Collins, who wrote on Twitter a few days before the governor signed the bill into law, asking if it would be legal for businesses to discriminate against him, as an openly gay man, and others when they attend the final four’s matches in the state capital next month.
Conservative groups say the Indiana measure merely seeks to prevent the government from compelling people to provide such things as catering or photography for same-sex weddings or other activities they find objectionable on religious grounds. On Wednesday, the day before enacting the new law, Pence received a highly critical letter from the Indianapolis-based Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) group warning that they may pull their planned 2017 religious convention from the city.
“I think you will find that, if you do your homework in it, this law is not going to allow you to discriminate against anyone else or anyone’s rights in this country,” the GOP Indiana senate president pro tem, David Long, said. “Our perspective is that hate and bigotry wrapped in religious freedom is still hate and bigotry,” wrote Todd Adams, associate general minister and vice-president of the church.
But the Republican mayor of Indianapolis said he believed the proposal would send the “wrong signal” for the city, and its tourism and convention agency raised concerns that it could lead some convention planners to regard Indiana as an unwelcoming place. Adrian Swartout, the chief executive of Gen Con, the huge US video, board-game and live-action gaming convention had also written to Pence saying the legislation could prompt the group to pull future gatherings from the city. The convention meets annually in Indianapolis, attracting 50,000 attendees from all 50 US states and around the world and is estimated to contribute $10m per meeting to the city’s economy.
The Indianapolis chamber of commerce and Columbus-based engine maker Cummins Inc are among business groups which have opposed the bill on the grounds that it could make it more difficult to attract top companies and employees. San Francisco based tech company Salesforce announced an immediate boycott of the state. Chief executive Mark Benioff took to Twitter, posting messages such as:
Adrian Swartout, the CEO of the 50,000-person Gen Con gamers’ convention, said the legislation could affect the group’s decision to hold the major event in Indianapolis past 2020. He said it would have “a direct negative impact on the state’s economy”. “Today we are canceling all programs that require our customers/employees to travel to Indiana to face discrimination.”
Similar bills have been advancing this year in the Arkansas and Georgia legislatures. Last year, Mississippi enacted a religious objection law just weeks after Arizona’s Governor Jan Brewer, a Republican, vetoed a similar effort there amid criticism from major corporations. Pence said in a statement on Thursday that the law ensures “religious liberty is fully protected” under Indiana law.
“The constitution of the United States and the Indiana constitution both provide strong recognition of the freedom of religion, but today, many people of faith feel their religious liberty is under attack by government action,” he said.
Last year Indiana failed to pass an amendment backed by Pence and conservatives that sought to amend the state constitution to ban same-sex marriage.
Some reports have suggested Pence may seek the 2016 Republican presidential nomination.
The Republican mayor of Indianapolis, Greg Ballard, said that the new law would send the “wrong signal” to the public about the city and state.
“We are a diverse city and I want everyone who visits and lives in Indy to feel comfortable here,” he said in a statement.