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April 3, 2015

Indiana, Arkansas Enact "Religious Freedom" Revisions After Outcry 
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The governors of Indiana and Arkansas have signed revisions to two
so-called religious freedom measures which would have allowed businesses
to discriminate against LGBT people. Indiana's law provoked a national
outcry, with celebrities, top corporations and city and state
governments condemning or boycotting the state. Flanked by business
leaders, Indiana Gov. Mike Pence signed a revision specifying the law
does not authorize anti-LGBT discrimination. Eli Lilly executive and
former Indianapolis Mayor Bart Peterson hailed the change.

Bart Peterson: "For the first time ever, the words 'sexual orientation'
and 'gender identity' appear in Indiana statute, or they will after this
law is passed, in the context of nondiscrimination."

Arkansas Gov. Asa Hutchinson signed a similarly updated bill Thursday
after he balked at signing an unrevised version, following condemnation
from Wal-Mart, the outcry in Indiana and an email from his son saying he
would sign the petition against the bill. In a statement, the ACLU said:
"The events in Indiana over the last week represent a dramatic change in
the way our country reacts to discrimination hiding under the guise of
religion."

 

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