If Indiana Gov. Mike Pence decides to throw his hat into the 2016 GOP clown car, he'll definitely be able to claim that he was a "job creator." Just not in his state. As we already discussed here, the leaders of the Disciples of Christ church sent a letter to Pence telling him they would be forced to reconsider holding their 2017 convention in Indianapolis if he signed the so-called Religious Freedom Restoration Act into law. Now that he's signed it, the hits just keep on coming.
Thousands turned out to protest the law in Indiana over the weekend.
The popular local business review and search site Angie's List is canceling its expansion plans in response to Indiana's "religious freedom" law.
Seattle Mayor Ed Murray is banning city-funded travel to Indiana. He plans to sign an executive order next week.
And former NBA star Charles Barkley released a statement saying wants the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) to yank its March Madness Final Four tournament out of Indiana.
And here's more from the HuffPo: Fierce Backlash Mounts Over Indiana's 'Religious Freedom' Law:
A new "religious freedom" law in Indiana touched off a firestorm of criticism across the country Friday, after opponents warned that it could lead to legal discrimination against lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender individuals in the state's business establishments.
The measure, which Indiana Gov. Mike Pence (R) signed into law Thursday, allows any individual or corporation to cite religious beliefs as a defense when sued by a private party. The legislation has already prompted threats of boycott from public officials and celebrities. "Star Trek" actor and LGBT activist George Takei expressed his outrage on Twitter using the hashtag #BoycottIndiana. Jason Collins, the first openly gay NBA player, also took to Twitter to ask Pence whether it would "be legal for someone to discriminate against me." San Francisco Mayor Ed Lee (D) prohibited the use of taxpayer money to fund any city employees' trips to Indiana. And Salesforce CEO Marc Benioff has canceled the company’s events in the state.
In some Indiana cities, stickers reading "This Business Serves Everyone" have been spotted in shop windows.
The National Collegiate Athletic Association, which will host the Final Four games of its men's basketball tournament in Indianapolis, said on Thursday that it was "especially concerned about how this legislation could affect our student-athletes and employees."
Other prominent names also weighed in by Friday. Apple CEO Tim Cook, who came out as gay last year, said he was "deeply disappointed" with the law. And likely 2016 presidential candidate and Democratic front-runner Hillary Clinton also took to Twitter to denounce the measure. "Sad this new Indiana law can happen in America today. We shouldn't discriminate against ppl bc of who they love #LGBT," the former secretary of state wrote.
Pence, a potential 2016 presidential contender, has defended the law as a fair protection for those who "feel their religious liberty is under attack by government action.” But on Saturday night, the Indy Star's Tim Swarens reported that Pence said he would support the introduction of legislation to "clarify" that the law does not promote discrimination against gays, lesbians, bisexual and transgender individuals. Pence didn't give any specifics about what would be in the new legislation, but said he expects it to be introduced in the coming week.
"I support religious liberty, and I support this law," Pence told the Indy Star. "But we are in discussions with legislative leaders this weekend to see if there’s a way to clarify the intent of the law."
Good luck with that pal. I'd say the intent of the law was crystal clear. Georgia was about to pass the same thing and they decided it was a poison pill to insert language saying the law was not intended to discriminate.
Even Saturday Night Live got in on the act this weekend.
