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Related: Editorials & Other Articles, Issue Forums, Alliance Forums, Region ForumsPublic pressure works: The crucial lesson in Mike Pence’s call for a religious freedom “fix”
It remains to be seen what Pence's changes will look like, but activists have already won a major victoryLUKE BRINKER
Appearing subdued and exuding an air of contrition, Republican Indiana Gov. Mike Pences Tuesday press conference on Indianas anti-gay religious freedom law was a stark contrast to his appearance on ABCs This Week with George Stephanopoulos on Sunday, when Pence defiantly defended the law, even as he repeatedly refused to say whether he thinks discrimination against gay people should be legal. Now, Pence is calling for a fix to the law, maintaining that it does not provide a license to discriminate and avowing that he personally abhors anti-gay discrimination.
I dont believe for a minute that it was the intension of the General Assembly to provide a right to discriminate, Pence said. But I can appreciate that thats become the perception not just here in Indiana but across this country.
How ever could that have happened? Well, the language of the Indiana Religious Freedom Restoration Act is quite clear: A person whose exercise of religion has been substantially burdened, or is likely to be substantially burdened, by a violation of this chapter may assert the violation or impending violation as a claim or defense in a judicial or administrative proceeding, regardless of whether the state or any other governmental entity is a party to the proceeding, the statute reads. Sure, the law does not explicitly state that business owners are free to put up a no gays allowed sign, but it provides a compelling legal defense for businesses and individuals who deny services to LGBT people on religious grounds.
Amid a social conservative backlash against marriage equality and the increased visibility of LGBT people, conservative lawmakers have introduced similar measures throughout the country, often flat-out admitting that the purpose is to target the LGBT population. Pence has not been as forthcoming, but the purpose of the law was clear. Look no further than the people who stood behind Pence as he signed the legislation. They included American Family Association of Indiana head Micah Clark, a promoter of ex-gay therapy; conservative lobbyist Eric Miller, who calls the fight against LGBT equality the greatest moral battle of this generation; and Indiana Family Institute president Curt Smith, who once charged that gay people have no life beyond absorption with narcissistic sex.
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http://www.salon.com/2015/03/31/public_pressure_works_the_crucial_lesson_in_mike_pences_call_for_a_religious_freedom_fix/
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Public pressure works: The crucial lesson in Mike Pence’s call for a religious freedom “fix” (Original Post)
DonViejo
Mar 2015
OP
Zorra
(27,670 posts)1. I'm still wondering why several DUers were trying to discourage us from boycotting
and threatening to boycott.
I don't understand what their motivation was; I asked a few of them, but did not ever get a straight answer.
Aggressive public pressure is critical to keeping fascism in check.