Today Indiana governor Mike Pence signed a “Religious Freedom Restoration Act” into law that allows “any individual or corporation to cite its religious beliefs as a defense when sued by a private party.” It’s understood that the purpose of this is to give homophobe business owners license to discriminate against LGBT customers.
The Indianapolis-based Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) had already told Pence that if he signed the bill, the Disciples would cancel their next convention in Indianapolis and find another city.
“Our perspective is that hate and bigotry wrapped in religious freedom is still hate and bigotry,” Todd Adams, the associate general minister and vice president of the Indianapolis-based denomination, told The Indianapolis Star.
Adams said the Disciples of Christ would instead seek a host city that is “hospitable and welcome to all of our attendees.”
And that’s not all.
The law’s passing comes as the N.C.A.A., the Indianapolis-based governing body of college sports, prepares to hold one of the most visible events on the college sports calendar, the Final Four, next week in the Colts’ Lucas Oil Stadium.
Gov. Mike Pence, a Republican, signed the bill Thursday. Soon after, N.C.A.A. President Mark Emmert said in astatement that the association was “deeply committed to providing an inclusive environment for all our events. We are especially concerned about how this legislation could affect our student-athletes and employees.â€
I don’t see how the bill can survive a legal challenge. I think the real goal here is to throw some red meat out into the political discussion to motivate the base, and perhaps give some props to Pence, who is rumored to be considering a 2016 White House run.
Crikey, Jan Brewer of Arizona vetoed a near-identical bill (but only because she understood the boycott danger).
Of course, this is the door that Hobby Lobby opened. Making money is a form of religious worship, and hate is a protected belief.
I wonder, if late one night the thunderous ghost of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. visited Antonin Scalia in his bedroom (where I picture Scalia wearing a tasseled nightcap like some bloated Scrooge) — would Scalia even have the sense to be afraid?
Ah, Karma!
You don’t make an appearance nearly often enough.
But, when you do!
We are grateful for the times you finally do show up!!!
Contrats, Governor Mike “The Dense” Pence!!!
Already, no one wants to willingly live in your miserable state.
And now, you’ve eliminated any LGBT folks from ever wanting to live there – I’m talking about the ones who like to live in rural, suburban, and peaceful areas, and don’t want an active urban existence.
And the athletes of various sports who do go to play in Indianapolis on visits, hate that f*ckin’ town, because there’s nothing to do there!
Rumor has it, that they roll-up the sidewalks at 10pm.
But at least, if you’re a pro-athlete, you get paid to visit there.
And I’m sure you have to over-pay for someone to come to play your teams, because, well… If you’re going to be bored out of your skull, you might as well make a great salary!
So, congratulations, Gov. Dense, now that you’ve signed the “I H8. U Can H8 2 Act!”, now you’ll have to find other sources of revenue, and ways to bring in business.
You’ve just taken away the only reason anyone ever wanted to come to your stinking state and boring city – the dome for sports, and the massive convention centers.
Maybe you can rent those out to TV Evangelists so that they can stage their own hateful, fearful, bigoted, and intolerant, uber-“Christian” rallies!
Also too – I suspect touring rock and other musical groups will also boycott your city and state.
And THAT’LL be another reason for no one wanting to move there – and for those who do, to move to somewhere more civilized.
YOU GO, KARMA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
wait. people getting AIDS is karmic payback for Pence’s bigotry? Uh, you might want to rethink that.
//people getting AIDS is karmic payback for Pence’s bigotry? Uh, you might want to rethink that.//
The fact that the so-called “gay plague,” which isn’t really about homosexuality, becomes a crisis in Indiana as this bill becomes law struck me as an interesting coincidence. FYI karma is not a cosmic criminal justice system and doesn’t actually “pay back.”
“You’ve just taken away the only reason anyone ever wanted to come to your stinking state”
Wow really? Don’t write off the entire state because of the actions of the wing-nut legislature and governor. Some of us Hoosiers can be quite progressive, don’t forget the state went for Obama in 08!
No basketball for you!
But what does that matter to Hoosiers, amirite?
uncledad,
Sorry .
I took and overdose of hyperbole.
A whole host of high-tech businesses from Silly-con Valley are joining in the festivities, according to CNBC Business News and saying they won’t send contractors into the state on business trips, and are looking to move any operations out of the state when that be done seamlessly…
All so some storefront cake dispensaries don’t have to cater gay weddings!
And you know what our uber-“Christian” Reich-Wingers will say about all of this?
They’ll blame all of the actions taken against Indiana on the Gay Mafia and their Libtard politicians and propagandists.
Sheeeeeeeeeeeeeeesh…
Uncledad…lay off gulag! How’s he gonna get his rant therapy if you’re pickin’ apart every word he says. Who says its got to make sense or be reasonable? The important thing is the ability to vent and get that built up anger toward the Repugs,Baggers,Wingnuts, and assorted Conservatives out of his system.
I’m waiting for someone to explain to me how a business corporation has religious beliefs.
“How’s he gonna get his rant therapy if you’re pickin’ apart every word he says”
Something tells me my pickin aint gonna stop the Gulag Rant factory, it’s a well-oiled machine!