Exclusive: 'Religious freedom' deal sets new protections

[alp227]

Source: Indianapolis Star

Indiana Republican leaders are set to announce a deal Thursday morning that alters Indiana's controversial "religious freedom" law to ensure it does not discriminate against gay and lesbian customers of Indiana businesses.

The proposal — which grants new protections for LGBT customers, employees and tenants — is set for a 9 a.m. rollout at the Statehouse and a 9:30 a.m. committee hearing. It closely mirrors a draft plan that was circulated early Wednesday morning and could potentially quell concerns that have made Indiana the focus of national derision for one very intense week.

Senate President Pro Tem David Long, R-Fort Wayne, and House Speaker Brian Bosma, R-Indianapolis, spent 90 minutes meeting late Wednesday evening discussing the deal with top staff and Gov. Mike Pence's chief of staff, Jim Atterholt.

"We feel there is a strong consensus," Long said Wednesday night, following the meeting. "We feel good about it. We did a lot of hard work to bring the groups together to find the comfort level everyone feels does the job of truly saying this does not discriminate against anyone."

Read more: http://www.indystar.com/story/news/politics/2015/04/01/indiana-rfra-deal-sets-limited-protections-for-lgbt/70766920/

[msongs]

1. so christians can still eff up people for being gay, just not as badly as before. thanks a lot nt

[Downwinder]

2. A "religious freedom" law that exempts religious organizations.

[merrily]

3. Does this mean storeowners can continue to be homophobic as long as they ALSO

throw out folks who announce to the storeowner that they hate God and are committing murder, adultery, theft, gossiping and coveting when not in their store?

So, it's all, you know, all even handed and not discriminatory against just one group at all.

Or does this mean they can throw the adulterers and murderers, but not members of the GLBT community?

[RiverNoord]

4. What a bunch of nonsense

The whole point of the law is to enable private, supposedly religion-motivated discrimination. So they're now going to modify the law so that the discrimination it allows isn't actually allowed? I assume that's part of some kind of face-saving measure to set it up so that the governor and lots of legislators are spared the absurdity of passing such a law only to repeal it shortly afterwards...

[cynzke]

5. It Stops Nothing.

Gays are still not protected.

[yellowcanine]

6. "We feel there is a strong consensus," Long said..... Consensus among whom?

Who was in the room representing the LGBTQ community? Right, that's what I thought.

[Myrina]

7. Why were no Dems part of the 're-write'? And why no outright appeal of RFRA?

My Dem representative stated on FB last night that they were close to having enough votes for a full repeal. Wouldn't the GOP let a few folks cross the aisle and vote with their conscience instead of their $party$ ?

This is happening, BTW, the day before the Legislature breaks session for the YEAR so if it is a shitshow, and Pence signs it, nothing can be done until next year, short of an emergency session - which Pence would rather die than demand.

[olegramps]

8. The law didn't restrict discrimenation only to the LGBT community.

This is something that seems to be overlooked and not emphasized. Businesses as people could use their religious or lack of religious convictions to discriminate against anyone with whom they disagree. I have little trouble in imagining it being used especially to refuse service to Islamic women who wear head coverings or Jews with skull-caps. There are absolutely no limits on its application and it will interesting with what they come up with. It should be just repealed, but they will do anything in a attempt to satisfy their racists base.