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| Indiana's new Religious Freedom Restoration Act could open the door to legalized discrimination. Image: Shutterstock |
Indiana
Governor Mike Pence signed into law today a bill preventing state and local
governments from imposing a “substantial burden” on a person or business’s
exercise of religion. In practice, this
could mean that business owners could refuse to serve LGBT customers, leading
gay rights groups to describe the law as a “license to discriminate.”
The Religious Freedom Restoration Act mirrors a federal law
enacted in 1993, and similar laws are currently on the books in 19 states.
In addition, the law is similar to a bill that did not pass
last year in Arizona. The governor of
Arizona at that time, Jan Brewer, vetoed the legislation after being pressured
by businesses, other Republican lawmakers, and the National Football League.
However, Pence
praised the law in Indiana, saying that it will “ensure that Indiana will
continue to be a place where we respect freedom of religion.”
The media backlash was almost instantaneous. The NCAA, which is based in Indianapolis,
released a statement expressing their concern about how the legislation will
affect student athletes and employees.
They also suggested that they may reconsider hosting the Final Four
tournament in Indianapolis in the future.
Such a move would be a huge hit to the city’s businesses, which
typically do very well serving fans during the tournament.
Earlier this month, in an op-ed for the Washington Examiner, Republican Senator James Lankford and
Representative Randy Forbes alluded to the Indiana ruling by comparing Mexican
chain Chipotle’s ability to remove carnitas from its menu when suppliers don’t
meet animal welfare standards to a business’s right to determine its customers
based on owners’ religious beliefs. "It is crucial that the
same freedom of conscience enjoyed by the leadership of Chipotle remain equally
available to business owners of faith," Lankford
and Forbes wrote.
Chipotle
didn’t appreciate the supposed connection, however, telling The Huffington Post, "It’s a pretty
ridiculous comparison. Our decision not to serve pork that doesn’t meet our
standards isn’t discriminating against any customers."
Laws
similar to Indiana’s Religious Freedom Restoration Act are currently being
considered in several other states.
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