NIT – Has the government of the state of Indiana gone too far, or is what this red state is about to do an “it’s about time” moment that more states should follow?
The Republican-controlled Indiana House and Senate have sent a bill to GOP governor Mike Pence, which would allow business the “religious freedom” of not serving or doing business with people who identify as lesbian-gay-bisexual-transgender (LGBT). Pence will sign the bill into law in a private ceremony Thursday.
According to a statement from Pence, he said the bill “is about respecting and reassuring Hoosiers that their religious freedoms are intact. I strongly support the legislation and applaud the members of the General Assembly for their work on this important issue.”
Several other states have similar law on the books, even as the U.S. Supreme Court is set to rule on gay marriage this year.
Meanwhile, Pence is about to declare a health emergency in his state after an HIV outbreak (attributed to intravenous drug use) that has “reached epidemic proportions.”
What do you think. Should business owners be able to choose who they serve, or should they be forced by the government to serve everyone, all the same?
There is big difference between a homosexual wanting a Christian to cater their wedding and a gay couple coming into a business to have a pizza. In the first instance I believe the store has the right to say no thanks. In the second instance the pizza shop should serve them pizza.
People need to have enough intelligence to look at both sides of this issue. There is a middle ground.
I’m shocked that it’s 2015 and that this is still an issue. How people live is their own business. This is bigotry at it’s finest. Sad.
Boy Pence is really walking this one back isn’t he? This is the kind of move that will continue to put the Republican party out to pasture. Legislating hate while the majority of the nation wants inclusion. If the Repubs don’t change their conservative social stance they will be all but nonexistent in 10 years.
Hey left, so you think this law will put the republicans out to pasture? Well let me instruct you on something. This law is the exact same law that president clinton passed in the 90’s and president bush expanded on, all the governor here did was make it a state law. This law is a democratic law, not a republican law. Now whose the fool?
You are the fool in this case Maybe.
You really need to do some research, the Federal RFRA and the RFRA’s in other states are different from the “law” that Indiana passed.
You just have issues admitting that you are wrong and so you blurt out some crap that you heard on Fox or from Limbaugh.
Whoever you are, it is you that needs to do more research.
http://dailysignal.com/2015/03/31/these-19-states-have-religious-freedom-laws-similar-to-indianas-heres-what-that-means/
This is all well and good but as we all know, the times they are a changin. And you can cling to the fact that Clinton was involved with these types of laws back 1993 as your saving grace if you’d like. The problem is now it’s 2015 and the Repubs are still passing these laws. It’s not 1993 anymore maybe! The problem with the repubs is they refuse to evolve, they are stuck in some utopian past that never existed. They will be left in the dust if they continue.
Ok let me get this right, you agree that the law is already there in a federal level signed by a democratic president yet it is still the republicans fault because they are behind the times? You not only swallowed the hook you swallowed the whole bobber.
If the law is already there at the Federal Level, why does Pence feel the need to pass another one for Indiana at the State level? Because the Republicans aren’t happy unless they are hating on someone. Whether it be women, gays, non-whites, the poor. You know just like Jesus wants them to. If it already exists federally, quit shooting yourselves in the foot and passing these at the state level. The dumb in the Republican party is extensive.
You really are a lost cause, they hit the jackpot when they brainwashed you.
So you’re not going to answer my question? Why do the states insist on continuing to pass these laws if it already exists at the Federal level maybe?
Oh here we go, it’s because the Federal one only covers a dispute between a person or entity and the government. Indiana’s removes the need for the government to be party to the dispute. This allows for person to person discrimination, which is indeed behind the times and against the direction that most Americans want to go.
http://thinkprogress.org/lgbt/2015/03/30/3640374/big-lie-media-tells-indianas-new-religious-freedom-law/
And again…regardless of all of these points. Passing a law like this today is clearly political suicide. Pence is even getting backlash from Republicans. Businesses are no longer planning expansions or setting up shop. No one wants to be associated with this kind of political nightmare. The publicity is killing them. As long as Republicans keep bringing this kind of publicity on themselves, they will put themselves out of business. Young people (voters) want equality.
Don’t ask me why but according to the constitution the federal government passes laws to concern the government and the states passes laws that concern the state. That was the way it was supposed to be but the government has been taking more and more liberties. It’s like the marijuana laws, the federal government has made it illegal yet a few states have legalized it. Of the 19 states that have the same law or something similar, some are democrat and some are republican.
Hopefully we are both in agreement that the social conservative agenda of the Republican Party is hurting them and not helping them. The Indiana law is the most recent example. As the older conservatives die off they are being replaced with young people who have grown up in a world where gay culture is not a big deal to them. The same with religion. More and more people are identifying as non-religious. Yet the Republicans keep pandering to the religious.
If the Republicans would just move away from their social conservative agenda and stick with the limited government and fiscal responsibility they would win over all kinds of voters.
In other words if the republicans would give up their moral and religious convictions they would be better off? I was raised being taught that if you believed in something and you turn away from that just to please others then you are of a weak mind. It takes a strong person to actually stand up for what you believe in.
Well if they want to win elections 10 years from now they should. More and more young voters don’t view religious based discrimination as “moral”.
If a politician said to you that they didn’t believe in gay marriage but to get your vote he would change his mind, would you trust him? Yes some republicans and democrats do that on a regular basis and because of that people don’t trust all of them. Like I said it takes a strong person to stand up for what they believe in and if they said they don’t believe in something and stick to their guns I will trust them.
It takes an even stronger person to admit that they are wrong. And I’m all for people changing their minds based on experiences and evidence. The Republican Party has a very hard time doing this. Look at the science behind global warming. It’s overwhelming. Yet the Republicans refuse to believe because of either God or they want to keep the pockets of their oil buddies lined.
Look at this guy standing up for his convictions! http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2015/04/01/religious-freedom_n_6985090.html
So because they don’t believe the same as you then they are wrong and should change their mind? Have you ever thought that maybe, just maybe you are the one that is wrong?
Nope.
@Lefty-Hey Marty. Now that one I can almost agree with you on.
Like everything else, you are wrong about me being “Marty”
You are NOT Marty, I’m Marty and Marty knows. Lay off ELVIS
LVS is so hot to trot for me that he is dying to find out my identity and where I live. It’s quite frightening actually as he and many other regulars on this garbage gossip rag are clearly unstable individuals. I’ve posted plenty of personal details in my time here and even suggested to LVS and maybe that they meet me in MC for lunch. I’m back in town occasionally. But I don’t think that’s going to happen anymore as these kooks are insane.
I’m also still waiting for LVS to share the details of who the “we” were that got together and decided I was “Marty”. How did that discussion go down? Who was involved in it? What ultimately led them to decide I was “Marty”? Who the hell is “Marty” anyway? The event where this was discussed was a meeting of the minds no doubt! LOL
Yeah but they’ve got god backing them don’t they?
I mean all those TV preachers, always say vote Republican. Cause Republicans, will make sure that TV preachers can keep their billions, fly around in private jets, eat lobster all day long. And make sure the poor and disadvantaged keep getting the short end of the stick.
So because a few do that, that means all preachers do that? Just because a few democrats are lying cheats does that mean all of them are?
All religious figures are selling snake oil. God is a myth and they are profiting off of weak minded people who believe it.
As usual, the Republicans in their myopia, open the door to an avalanche of REAL trouble, so that they can ‘solve’ something that was only a problem in their own hateful imaginations.
And there are major corporations that are condemning this and it will have a negative financial impact on Indiana.
What is next?
How about discriminate against any guy over 70 years old that is a bigoted stupid old coot?
Wait, now that one makes sense.
Bull-just more bull crap from a liberal. It will make no difference whatsoever.
If you don’t think that this discrimination law will have a negative impact on Indiana, then you’re more of a fool than I thought.
The lawsuits alone will be very costly and many national companies are going to curtail business within that state.
But what with Indiana’s past history of of huge KKK involvement, it figures that an ignorant buffoon like you would support them.
Mark my words, this be be very costly to Indiana, financially, socially and yes morally.
Good point, Samuel,the economic repercussions are the real danger, as we’re already seeing. Some historical perspective, at the very least, might have been helpful in Indiana’s decision-making.
This is the same law approved by Clinton and even your God Obama. Of course it was alright for them because they were liberals.
Why do you suppose these religious nuts, say they hate sharia law more then anything.
Then try and impose their own version of sharia in Indiana?
Business should be allowed to sell their services to whoever they want. It is a choice and called freedom.
States identified as Red (Republican) are typically violent and more criminal than Blue states. The Republican model for existence (elitist, classist, racist, segregationist, prejudiced, religilous, militaristic, authoritarian, prison industrial etc.) sets circumstances to play out that way. It’s not too different than the old plantation days where bigoted white cops would harass and mess with black slaves. NO wonder that European models are more peaceful and inclusive: Vermont.