More than a dozen Indiana business leaders stood behind Republican lawmakers Thursday as they announced legislation aimed at repairing the damage caused by controversy around Indiana’s religious freedom bill. But not all are convinced the fix goes far enough.
The so-called “clarifying language” to the measure known as RFRA says the controversial law can’t be used to deny anything to anyone on the basis of sexual orientation or gender identity. Eli Lilly Vice President – and former Democratic Indianapolis mayor – Bart Peterson says that agreed-upon legislative fix shows that GOP lawmakers know the future of Indiana is at stake.
“And they value the future of our state above a desire to win, above the need for ideological purity,” Peterson says.
Scott McCorkle is the CEO of Salesforce Marketing Cloud. His parent company announced it was halting travel to and investment in Indiana after RFRA was signed into law last week. McCorkle says the legislative fix is a positive first step.
“But it is a first step in a larger discussion we acknowledge the importance of equal rights for all,” McCorkle says.
Angie’s List CEO Bill Oesterle, whose company put plans to expand its Indianapolis headquarters on hold after RFRA’s passage, says the fix is insufficient and doesn’t provide real protections for the LGBT community.
Leaders from Indiana’s LGBT community say the legislative fix is an important first for Indiana law.
“[It] establishes sexual orientation and gender identity in the context of recognizing and protecting our rights as equal citizens,” says Chris Douglas, the founder of Indy Rainbow Chamber of Commerce.
The follow up bill only applies to RFRA, meaning in all but 12 municipalities with human rights ordinances, discrimination against the LGBT community isn’t barred by state law. But Kathy Sarris, former president of Indiana Equality, says that day is coming.
“We’re not going to let any of these people off the hot seat, Sarris says. "We’ve struck a compromise; they’re going to be hearing from us again.”
In a statement, Freedom Indiana campaign manager Katie Blair, whose organization has led the fight against RFRA, says the legislative fix lessens the law’s harm but that Indiana has not reached the day when LGBT Hoosiers can live their lives free from discrimination.
Democratic legislative leaders agree the proposed fix doesn’t solve the problem of discrimination against gays and lesbians. Senate Minority Leader Tim Lanane (D-Anderson) says the time to create full-scale civil rights protections based on sexual orientation and gender identity is now.
“Everybody is of the consensus that discrimination is wrong, that we abhor it," Lanane says. "Therefore, I do not see the reason why we are waiting.”
But Sen. Mike Young (R-Speedway) questions why, if Democrats feel so strongly about that issue, they didn’t file a bill this session to do so.
“It’s funny that when it becomes important is when we have TV cameras in front of us, not when we had an opportunity to hear a bill or have one introduced,” Young says.
Republican leaders say the debate over RFRA and its legislative fix is the beginning of the conversation about stronger protections for the LGBT community.
Meanwhile, some of the staunchest supporters of Indiana’s religious freedom bill say the “clarification language” crafted by Republican legislative leaders will destroy religious protections the controversial law created.
Advance America executive director Eric Miller, who leads a powerful conservative group with considerable sway among Statehouse Republicans, says the backlash that prompted the follow-up bill is unwarranted. He argues the outrage over RFRA is the result of a coordinated misinformation campaign by people pushing a particular agenda.
“Which is to get government recognition, government approval, adding to our civil rights laws protections for sexual orientation and gender identity. That’s the endgame.”
In a statement, Indiana Right to Life says the legislative clarification will dismantle protections RFRA would have provided pro-life people and businesses from being forced to support abortion.
