Bizarro World: Jindal Says Gays Don't Need 'Special' Laws, But Christians 'Face Discrimination'
Louisiana Gov. Bobby Jindal (R) said over the weekend that Christians in Indiana needed a law to make sure that they were not forced to serve same-sex weddings, but LGBT people in his state did not need "special legal protections" against housing and employment discrimination.
Louisiana Gov. Bobby Jindal (R) said over the weekend that Christians in Indiana needed a law to make sure that they were not forced to serve same-sex weddings, but LGBT people in his state did not need "special legal protections" against housing and employment discrimination.
During an interview on Meet the Press, Jindal asserted that businesses in Indiana were facing "discrimination."
"Businesses that don't want to choose between their Christian faith -- their sincerely held religious beliefs -- and being able to operate their businesses," he opined. "Now, what they don't want is the government to force them to participate in wedding ceremonies that contradict their beliefs."
"So I was disappointed that you could see Christians and their businesses face discrimination in Indiana, but I hope the legislators will fix that -- rectify that."
But when it came to a New Orleans ordinance protecting LGBT people against housing and employment discrimination, Jindal suggested that government was trying to solve a problem that did not exist.
"I don't think there should be discrimination certainly against anybody in housing and employment," he said. "That's not what my faith teaches me. I think the good news is our society is moving in a direction of more tolerance."
"My concern about creating special legal protections is, historically in our country, we've only done that in extraordinary circumstances," the Republican governor continued. "And it doesn't appear to me that we're at one of those moments today."
According to Jindal, "there are many that turn to the heavy hand of government to solve societies problems too easily."
"I do think we need to be very careful about creating special rights," he declared.