Arkansas Governor Asa Hutchinson said on Wednesday that he would not sign that state’s “religious freedom” bill that closely mirrors the recently-passed Indiana law that has caused a national uproar. The key to the decision appears to be pressure from the business community, which has faced calls for boycotts similar to what is happening in…
The mayor of Hammond, Indiana is calling on Governor Mike Pence to step down over the state’s anti-gay “religious freedom” law and the ensuing national firestorm. “I woke up this morning to the nation and world taking our state to task again for a measure signed into law by our governor that should have never…
Indiana lawmakers are scrambling to backpedal as a fierce backlash has taken hold against Republican Governor Mike Pence since he signed into law legislation that effectively permits discrimination against people thought to be lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, or queer. Under the handle #BoycottIndiana, LGBTQ activists and supporters across the nation are vowing economic retribution against…
The ink barely dried from Governor Mike Pence’s pen when word came that Indiana is already feeling negative economic impacts of a highly controversial bill that would legalize discrimination in the state. The bill — known as the Religious Freedom Restoration Act — was signed into law today by Governor Pence. It passed the Republican-dominated…
Barely a week ago, a group of local community activists, elected officials, and LGBT allies were celebrating the third year anniversary of the passage of South Bend’s Human Rights Ordinance. The Human Rights Ordinance bans discrimination in education, employment, and access to public accommodations based on race, color, sex, disability, national origin and ancestry. An…
The Indiana House of Representatives passed a bill on Monday that would shield individuals, businesses and other organizations who object to a law based on their religion. The bill — which opponents call a “license to discriminate” and supporters call “religious freedom” — won the support of the Republican-controlled chamber. A Senate version of the…
Local leaders involved in the effort to pass South Bend’s Human Rights Ordinance will be honored this weekend at Guerrilla Gay Bar. “This is the first month of our new effort to leverage the power and size of our group for more community engagement,” says Willow Wetherall, one of the organizers of Guerrilla Gay Bar,…
Indiana’s legislature is currently considering a number of so-called “religious freedom” bills that have arose in the months since the state was forced to begin recognizing same-sex marriages. Senate Bill 568 prohibits the state or local governments from passing laws that “compel a person to take an action that is contrary to the person’s exercise…
An Indiana Senate committee unanimously approved a bill that will require the state, local governments and public utilities in Indiana to include a provision in their contracts that would allow contractors who receive taxpayer money to discriminate in their hiring practices based on religion. Senate Bill 127 would allow a “religious corporation, association, educational institution,…
