In a huge turnabout, an amendment to the controversial Indiana “religious freedom” law would include sexual orientation and gender identity protections.
A proposed draft amendment to Indiana’s Religious Freedom Restoration Act would turn the intent of the law on its head. That amendment would, for the first time ever in Indiana history, add sexual orientation and gender identity to the list of protected classes – although only in relation to the religious freedom law.
That amendment, as released Thursday morning, “prohibits service providers from using the law as a legal defense for refusing to provide services, goods, facilities or accommodations,” the AP reports. “It also bars discrimination based on race, color, religion, ancestry, age, national origin, disability, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or United States military service.”
The language would need to be approved and voted on by both the Indiana House and Senate, and signed into law by Governor Mike Pence.
If it does become law, it would be a huge win for equality supporters, and likely distance the Governor even more from religious conservatives, who are opposed to the proposed language.
House Speaker Brian Bosma and other lawmakers spoke at a press conference this morning:
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