Why not simply repeal RFRA? First, it appears to be politically unacceptable for the governor and many Republican lawmakers.
Second, there are Hoosiers who support RFRA out of a genuine desire to protect religious freedom. To safeguard that essential freedom, 19 states and the federal government have adopted RFRA laws, largely without controversy. But states like Illinois not only protect religious freedom through RFRA but also provide gay and lesbian residents with protected legal status.
Third, repeal might get rid of the heat but it would not do what is most important – to move the state forward.
The intention of the law is to pit one group of citizens against another by allowing the first group to discriminate against the second. I cannot imagine a law to protect religious freedom as Governor Pence and the state legislators envision it -- Christianity not in the spirit of Christ but in the tradition of the Spanish Inquisition -- that would make an anti-discrimination statement that wouldn't simply gut the law.
Religious freedom is not threatened by gay rights. I would never propose a law that would force a priest or minister to perform a ceremony that he believes is an abomination, although I couldn't disagree with the priest or minister more. The priest or minister is free to rail against homosexuality from his pulpit. No one has to listen to, and I would hope no one would. Nevertheless, that's asking too much of an imperfect world and we taxpayers have better things to pay the police to do than try to stop hate speech in the name of Christ from some of his misguided followers.
Therefore, those who passed this law with the intent to license discrimination and now are worried that tourists who be be made to feel unwelcome in Indiana and will just plan their vacations elsewhere can't have it both ways. The only message that be construed as putting the situation right is to repeal the act as fast as the legislature passed it.
By the way, I have fond memories of a trip to Indiana whit I was five years old. Dad has signed up for some classes held in Warsaw, Indiana, near Winona Lake, so we drove more than halfway across the country from California. What was so wonderful about Indiana? I discovered fireflies there. I still think they are truly wondrous creatures.
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