An estimated 3000 people from all walks of life joined together to protest an anti-LGBT law disguised as “religious freedom” legislation.
Ever since Indiana lawmakers passed the Religious Freedom Restoration Act on Monday, calls denouncing it have grown increasingly louder – and more effective. Despite criticism from local citizens, legal experts, and corporations that do business in Indiana, Republican Governor Mike Pence decided to sign the discriminatory legislation into law in a private ceremony, surrounded by local religious leaders on Thursday.
That’s when, excuse the phrase, all hell broke loose.
Within hours, major companies were warning they would pull back investments in Indiana and ban employee travel to the state. Within a day, everyone from the White House to the City of San Francisco, to Broadway’s Audra McDonald, to Hillary Clinton spoke out against the new anti-gay law.
LISTEN: Indiana Restaurant Owner Says He Discriminates Against Gays, Glad The Law Supports Him Now
Not only those notables, but Indiana-based Angie’s List, Apple, Inc.’s Tim Cook, the City of Seattle,$4 billion software firm Salesforce, $50 million annual gaming convention Gen Con, Fortune 500 member Cummins, Eskenazi Health, Eli Lilly and Co., Yelp, George Takei, Pat McAfee, Jason Collins, Ashton Kutcher, Miley Cyrus, James Van Der Beek, Sophia Bush, Dustin Lance Black, Mara Wilson, Jack Antonoff, the Mayor of Indianapolis, and the State of Indiana’s own tourism board, and many, many others have all voiced upset, anger, and frustration, or decided to take action to protect employees, in response to the law.
On Saturday afternoon, about 3000 citizens, gay, straight, Black, white, Republican, Democratic, secular, religious, joined together in a rally to support the LGBT community – seen as the target of the law – and to denounce lawmakers and Governor Pence for enabling and promoting discrimination.
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Image, top, by Shannon Houser via Twitter