Earlier this week, Gov. Mike Pence (R-IN) implored Indiana lawmakers to send him a revised version of the state’s Religious Freedom Restoration Act that the governor himself recently signed into law. LGBT groups and media outlets, after all, have noted that the language of the statute is rather ambiguous and therefore does not necessarily explicitly protect the rights of gays and lesbians from discrimination. (I would encourage you to read Guy's piece, by the way, debunking some of the Left's talking points about what the law does and does not actually do). Republicans in the state legislature, however, announced today they are taking bold and concrete steps to address the concerns of the LGBT community and all Hoosiers.
“What was intended as a message of inclusion, inclusion of all religious beliefs, was interpreted as a message of exclusion, especially for the LGBT community,” Indiana House Speaker Brian Bosma told reporters this morning announcing the forthcoming changes to the law. “Nothing could have been further from the truth, but it was clear that the perception had to be addressed. Hoosier hospitality had to be restored.”
“We are pleased to tell you that today at 9:30 we will be presenting what we believe is a very strong statement to ensure that every Hoosier's rights are protected and won’t be infringed upon by the enactment of RFRA,” he added.
Sen. David Long also spoke.
“If there’s one takeaway from all the calamity that’s happened in the past week it would be this,” he declared. “Religious rights – and individual rights — can coexist in harmony together.”
“I know I speak for many when I say that in supporting the Religious Freedom Restoration Act – or RFRA, as well call it – that it was never meant to discriminate against anyone,” he added. “Its goal was simply to create a new standard.”
UPDATE: Read the proposed new language of the law below:
Here's the "fix" for Indiana #RFRA. 1/2 pic.twitter.com/YSQ8si8eNn
— Mark Alesia (@markalesia) April 2, 2015Here's the "fix" for Indiana #RFRA 2/2 pic.twitter.com/IoGIFStafR
— Mark Alesia (@markalesia) April 2, 2015
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