God-botherers and the cranks assembled together as the Indiana Republican Party strike another blow for
freedumb tolerance ugly discrimination:
Indiana Gov. Mike Pence (R) quietly signed legislation Thursday that
could legalize discrimination against lesbian, gay, bisexual and
transgender individuals.
The Religious Freedom Restoration Act would allow any individual or corporation to cite its religious beliefs
as a defense when sued by a private party. But many opponents of the
bill, which included business leaders, argued that it could open the
door to widespread discrimination. Business owners who don't want to
serve same-sex couples, for example, could now have legal protections to
discriminate.
"
[Q]uietly signed legislation." We don't doubt Pence and his fellow Republicans were trying to low-key this homophobic piece of malicious trash. But the potential impact of "The Religious Freedom Restoration Act," perhaps one of the more Orwellian titles for a law that we've ever witnessed, is huge:
"These bills are often incredibly vague and light on details -- usually intentionally. In practice, most of these bills could empower any individual to sue the government to attempt to end enforcement of a non-discrimination law," wrote the LGBT equality group in a report. "The evangelical owner of a business providing a secular service can sue claiming that their personal faith empowers them to refuse to hire Jews, divorcees, or LGBT people. A landlord could claim the right to refuse to rent an apartment to a Muslim or a transgender person."
In a statement Thursday, HRC Legal Director Sarah Warbelow said the Indiana General Assembly and Pence have sent a message saying, "as long as your religion tells you to, it’s ok to discriminate against people despite what the law says."
The
NCAA, which holds it's Final Four college basketball tournament and is headquartered in Indianapolis, promised to "examine the implications of the bill," and corporate giant
Salesforce is
cancelling all programs in Indiana. In addition, the
Gen Con gaming convention is expected to
change its venue from Indianapolis (it's the largest and most lucrative convention hosted by the city).
In the "good for them" category, among the groups and individuals expressing dismay over this retrograde legislation are the
Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) -- who could teach the Bible-bangers who pushed for this law a thing or three about the real meaning of Christ's teachings -- and, yes, the
Republican mayor of Indianapolis.
Editorial boards are also weighing in, with the
once great Washington Post Bezos Bugle
saying the law is "embracing intolerance under the guise of protecting people of faith." The
Terre Haute (IN) Tribune Star called it a "disgusting discrimination law." The
Iowa State Daily called it "a step backward for civil rights."
This, we have to believe, is a
temporary step backward for civil rights for LGBT people, who -- in 2015! --should not have to suffer discrimination because the warped "religious" views of an intolerant minority hold sway over the Republican/ New Confederate/ Stupid Party.
(
Image: Indiana Republican
Preacher Gov. Mike Pence - "Thou shalt be a bigoted ass.")