How’s This For Proof Mike Pence Is Lying When He Says His Anti-Gay Bill Isn’t About Discrimination?
Governor Mike Pence says the Indiana Religious Freedom Restoration Act “isn’t about discrimination.” He’s lying. And he’s literally surrounded by professional anti-gay activists. Here’s how you can prove it.
On Thursday when Indiana Governor Mike Pence signed his Religious Freedom Restoration Act in to law, he did so in a private ceremony that was closed to the press and the public. Minutes after he signed the discriminatory bill into law, he or his staff posted a photo of Governor Pence surrounded by what the press was told were religious and faith leaders:
I signed SEA 101 today to ensure religious liberty is fully protected under IN law http://t.co/vCOASZBZnH pic.twitter.com/CMFJh6aLDx
— Governor Mike Pence (@GovPenceIN) March 26, 2015
“This bill is not about discrimination, and if I thought it legalized discrimination in any way in Indiana, I would have vetoed it,” Pence said in a statement announcing the signing.
As it turns out, that photograph is damning evidence Governor Pence is lying about the intent behind his Religious Freedom Restoration Act.
So is this one. It was posted by Micah Clark, a professional anti-gay activist:
SB 101 #RFRA is now law. Want to thank @GovPenceIN for standing firm for #ReligiousFreedom pic.twitter.com/Boioi4Jhxs
— Micah Clark (@AFAofIndiana) March 26, 2015
This afternoon, GLAAD posted an image (above) revealing that not everyone surrounding Gov. Pence in the signing photo is a religious or faith leader.
“Some of Indiana Gov. Mike Pence’s guests at the signing of the state’s ‘license to discriminate’ bill look familiar to us,” GLAAD writes on Facebook.
This image was created by Twitter user @seamonkey237.
It reveals three of the people surrounding Gov. Pence are professional anti-gay activists. Here are excerpts from their résumés, thanks to GLADD’s Commentator Accountability Project:
Micah Clark, Head of the American Family Association of Indiana:
Claims that “homosexuality has no societal benefit…and its individually destructive and dangerous.”
Curt Smith, President of Indiana Family Institute:Â
Admits: “…I believe homosexuality is harmful to all, including society, and is against the teachings of the God of the Bible…”
Equates homosexuality with bestiality and adultery
Eric Miller, Exec. Director of Advance America, Indiana’s leading anti-LGBT org.:
Claims “[b]anning same-sex marriages and civil unions will prove to be the greatest moral battle of this generation.â€
Distributed fear flier falsely claiming that pastors could be jailed for preaching against homosexuality once same-sex marriage passes
Here’s seamonkey237’s tweet with the image:
The other #RFRA signing photo. #MikePence needs to find better friends. Data via @glaad pic.twitter.com/YIQX3qTvzK
— JetBelly (@seamonkey237) March 29, 2015
And another version:
Mike Pence says Indiana’s RFRA isn’t about discrimination. Yet look who he invited to the (private) bill signing. pic.twitter.com/hhx95efLci
— Will McAvoy (@WillMcAvoyACN) March 29, 2015
Share these images far and wide, and tag them with #RFRA.
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Image via Twitter
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