As Backlash Grows, Does It Matter What Indiana's Religious Freedom Law Actually Means?

Monday, March 30, 2015 at 7:28 AM

By Mike Perleberg

Some of the hundreds of people who gathered outside the Indiana Statehouse on Saturday, for a rally against legislation signed Thursday by Gov. Mike Pence. Photo by Rick Callahan/Associated Press. (Indianapolis, Ind.) - Indiana and its newly-signed Religious Freedom Restoration Act are at the center of a national debate about discrimination against gays. What the new law means probably depends on who you ask. But what isn’t debatable is that the RFRA has ignited a national discussion on the merits of the law and if Indiana can truly say it truly offers Hoosier hospitality to all. Governor Mike Pence signed the bill into law last Thursday, and the criticism of the legislation and those state lawmakers who passed it has been growing ever since. Over the weekend, Pence said he plans to introduce or support legislation that would “clarify” the intent of the law. In an attempt to quell the outcry and defend the RFRA, Pence went on ABC’s “This Week” on Sunday morning. He blamed mischaracterization of the law on the media. “There’s been shameless rhetoric about my state and about this law and about its intention all over the internet. People are trying to make it about one particular issue,” Pence told host George Stephanapoulos, adding that sexual orientation “doesn’t have anything to do with” the law. The GOP governor, however, refused to answer direct questions whether the law would make it legal for businesses to refuse work from gay individuals or couples. Pence did say that the law, which does not go into effect until July 1, does not apply to disputes between individuals unless government is involved. He pointed to the federal RFRA signed by President Bill Clinton in 1993. “In more than two decades, the Religious Freedom Restoration Act has never been used to undermine anti-discrimination laws,” Pence claimed. ARE YOU A SOUTHEAST INDIANA BUSINESS OWNER CONSIDERING YOUR BUSINESS PRACTICES IN INDIANA DUE TO PASSAGE OF THE RELIGIOUS FREEDOM LAW? OR DO YOU KNOW A BUSINESS WHO WON'T PROVIDE SERVICE TO HOMOSEXUALS? CONTACT OUR NEWS DEPARTMENT TO SHARE YOUR STORY. Regardless, even the White House is among those weighing in on Indiana’s law. Presidential spokesman Josh Earnest said all Americans have a responsibility to voice their feelings on Indiana's law. “Business leaders all across the country say that they’re reluctant to do business in Indiana. Not because they don’t like the people of Indiana, but because of this law could make it more likely that the customers of those businesses and the employees of those businesses are now more likely to be discriminated against,” said Earnest. In addition to the federal law, state laws similar to Indiana’s have passed in 19 other states. Obama voted for passage of a similar law when he was a state senator in 1998, which Pence pointed out during his ABC interview. Many Indiana-based businesses and organizations are already threatening to uproot from the state or at least limit their presence here. Angie’s List, headquartered in Indianapolis, announced it would not pursuer an expansion with 1,000 new jobs because of the law. The NCAA is considering whether to allow future events – such as the Final Four, which will take place in the Circle City next weekend – in Indiana. Neighboring states and cities are now trying to lure those businesses looking to vacate or do business outside the Hoosier state. In Cincinnati, openly-gay city councilman Chris Seelbach wrote an open letter to companies and organizations doing business in Indiana. He said the RFRA “or ‘License to Discriminate Against LGBT People’ act” should be a call to action. “If you are reconsidering business in the State of Indiana because it is now legal to turn LGBT Americans away simply because of their sexual orientation or gender identity, please consider Cincinnati, Ohio as a great place to relocate your business, services or meeting,” Seelbach wrote. RELATED: McMillin Says RFRA Protects Rights Of All Hoosiers A rally against the religious freedom bill at the Indiana Statehouse on Saturday was attended by hundreds of gay people and their heterosexual supporters. Indiana U.S. Senator Joe Donnelly, a Democrat, has joined those calling on state lawmakers to reverse the law. “To our brothers and sisters in Indiana, we want your hopes and dreams to come true right here at home. To folks across the country, we want you to know that we are the Hoosier hospitality state. You’ll always find a friendly face here in Indiana. We’ll work together to reverse SB 101 and we’ll stand together to make sure that we welcome everyone, everyday,” Donnelly said in a video message. In a statement, Freedom Indiana campaign manager Katie Blair said Pence’s wish to clarify the bill won’t suffice for the organization which argued against RFRA’s passage during the course of the 2015 state legislative session. "You can't 'clarify' discrimination. Indiana now has billions of dollars and thousands of jobs on the line, all because the Governor wouldn't stop this dangerous bill. He has a second chance to save our reputation for Hoosier hospitality, but he has to stand up and protect LGBT Hoosiers,” Blair said. RELATED STORIES: LETTER: McMillin Says RFRA Protects Rights Of All Hoosiers LETTER: State Rep. Frye Says Hoosiers Won’t Notice A Difference With RFRA Religious Freedom Debate Rages After Bill Signed Into Law Ind. Senate Approves Religious Freedom Bill; Pence Likely To Sign Into Law Religious Freedom Bill Passes Ind. House; Likely To Become Law Religious Freedom Bill Headed For Final Vote Religious Freedom Bill Advances to Indiana House SB 101: Protecting Religious Liberties Or License To Discriminate?