Indiana wants me

[Gob]

but I'm boycotting it...

Activists have encouraged a boycott of Indiana after the US state enacted a "religious freedom" law, which they say discriminates against gay people.



Supporters say the law prevents the state from forcing people to provide services contrary to their religion. Similar bills are being considered across the US as court rulings have made gay marriage legal in more states. Several groups plan to do less business with the state, and celebrities criticised the law on Twitter.

The National Collegiate Athletic Association said it was "especially concerned" about how the law would affect its employees and student athletes. Next week, the NCCA will host the finals of its annual basketball tournament in Indianapolis, the state's capital and its largest city. On Friday, Arkansas moved closer to passing a similar "religious freedom" measure.

Several large conventions based in Indiana -- including the large gamer gathering GenCon -- have threatened to hold their events elsewhere because of the law. Salesforce, a California company with ties to Indiana, cancelled all employee travel to the state and said it was considering decreasing its investment in Indiana.

Governor Mike Pence said he signed the law to "help protect churches, Christian businesses and individuals from those who want to punish them because of their Biblical beliefs". Mr Pence, a Republican, said he would not have signed the law if he thought it was discriminatory. Corporate executives such as Jeremy Stoppelman of Yelp and Tim Cook of Apple have urged other states not to follow Indiana's example.

"These laws set a terrible precedent that will likely harm the broader economic health of the states where they have been adopted, the businesses currently operating in those states and, most importantly, the consumers who could be victimised under these laws." Mr Stoppelman wrote in an open letter. GenCon, a large convention for fans of pop culture and role playing games, says it may leave Indianapolis

Sponsors of the bill say it is closely modelled on a federal religious freedom law passed in 1993 and that 19 other states already have similar laws. But Indianapolis Mayor Greg Ballard, a Republican, said the law sends a "wrong signal" to visitors and could make the state seem unwelcoming.

Star Trek star George Takei, who has a large following on social media, has pushed for a boycott of the state. The term #BoycottIndiana has been a top trending topic on Twitter for more than a day. "Sad this new Indiana law can happen in America today," Hillary Clinton, a presumptive presidential candidate, wrote on Twitter on Thursday. "We shouldn't discriminate against people because of who they love."

[TPFKA@W]

The best part will be when the realization dawns that they have opened the door for Sharia Law. Ah unintended consequences, how interesting you will be.

[Econoline]

The backstory:

OUTBREAK OF HOMOSEXUALITY IN INDIANA FORCES
GOVERNOR TO SIGN NEW RELIGIOUS FREEDOM LAW

Indianapolis, Indiana – An outbreak of homosexuality in a suburb of Indianapolis forced state legislators and the governor to discretely meet and push through a holy law to protect straight men from catching homosexuality.

The backstory starts three days ago, when a local outbreak of homosexuality was traced to The Christian Kettle Restaurant. An overtly gay couple from New England had eaten in the restaurant and the owner noted they were very gay: a pronounced gay accent, very wealthy and well dressed for just a Thursday outing, slightly aloof and high-brow in dry humor and decidedly enamored with one another, even though they were both males.

Restaurant owner Joe Bird was powerless as the boisterous couple “loudly spoke of political issues at the table, praising Obama and slighting Midwest values in between bites of our ‘local Bible belt fair food’ as they described it.”

Many families were eating at the restaurant that day and some chose to leave, as the couple was making them very uncomfortable.

Read the rest of this shocking, sordid tale here!

[TPFKA@W]

What's interesting as well is how little the majority of folks care for this new law.

The thing is we have always had gays who pretty much just fit in with the rest of us. When I was growing up a gay couple pretty much ran the county seat. They owned the theater (a given, right?) the drive in, and a deli. One of the fellers was president of a couple of different boards. Everyone knew they were a couple and no one gave a rat's posterior.

It's a shame to see our reputation tarnished by this crap.

[Joe Guy]

The thing is we have always had gays who pretty much just fit in with the rest of us. ...

What a shock!! Indiana must be very unique in that way...

[TPFKA@W]

http://www.cnn.com/2015/03/27/politics/ ... index.html

[Lord Jim]

Indiana wants me

I'm going to stop checking out this thread, because every time I do, I can't get that infernal song out of my head...(When I was 11, I thought it was great...but hey, I was 11...)



R.Dean Taylor...

Another damn Canadian...

[rubato]

Reactions to the bill are out of proportion to what the law actually says.


yrs,
rubato

[TPFKA@W]

Reactions to the bill are out of proportion to what the law actually says.


yrs,
rubato

Knee jerk responses get more attention.

I was amused that Angie's List jumped up and declared that it was now not going to expand in Indianapolis. The part that made it amusing was that they had asked the citizens of Indiana to foot the bill for it at $18 million. The taxpayers laughed in Angie's face and said collectively, "No no HELL NO!" So Angie is now all sour grapes and decides to jump on the outrage bandwagon. That certainly shows us now, doesn't it?

Most of the folks who have businesses around here do not care about your sexual orientation, just how green your money is.

Look I am not religious and I am not anti-gay but I do believe that it will not make anti gay people change their minds by forcing association. In fact I think quite the opposite will occur and it simply reinforce the anti-ness of it all. If you need a gay themed wedding cake go to someone who is willing to make it. Otherwise you may get something you didn't count on in in the list of ingredients. Leave these ignorant narrow-minded people to live out their miserable existences, in another generation or so things will have changed for the better.

[TPFKA@W]

One thing that occurred to me this moring is I seem to note a deafening silence on this topic from the black community. You would think they would have jumped all over this if there was honest potential for discrimination since many of them lived to see it happening to themselves.

[Big RR]

My guess is because race is a federally protected class, while sexual orientation is not. I had read some in Indiana were seeking to pass a law declaring sexual orientation was a protected class that could nto be discriminated against.

[TPFKA@W]

My guess is because race is a federally protected class, while sexual orientation is not. I had read some in Indiana were seeking to pass a law declaring sexual orientation was a protected class that could nto be discriminated against.

Which does not explain the silence at all.

I know what is going on though and I know why the silence. A very large portion of the Black community are very Christian and extremely homophobic. I have experienced this first hand and heard the homophobic remarks out of the mouths of black co-workers who would follow their rants with "praise Jesus". I have also heard gay friends and coworkers lament the lack of support they receive from the black community.

[Big RR]

that may well be true, but I would also think many are less inclined to speak when the law does not affect them directly.

[TPFKA@W]

that may well be true, but I would also think many are less inclined to speak when the law does not affect them directly.

Which is not ok at all really is it? Any more than whites who ignore discrimination against blacks, right? Particularly since blacks received gay support on civil rights.

[Big RR]

Exactly, but it happens all the time.

[Joe Guy]

One thing that occurred to me this moring is I seem to note a deafening silence on this topic from the black community....

Or the Chinese, Native American, Hispanic, Irish, Italian community, etc.

Shame on them.

What you need to do is import some gay black people into Indiana so they can be outraged. Apparently there are none there now.

[Big RR]

Joe Guy--I agree there are a lot of people of all ethnicities who probably didn't raise their voices in response to this probable misjustice; I had thought @W was singling out the black community because laws permitting discrimination often disproportionately affect them. But in any event, not speaking out against injustice is never a good idea, as Martin Niemoller eloquently told us nearly 80 years ago.

[Lord Jim]

Apparently there's some "re-thinking" going on here...

(Probably because of the potential economic fall-out)

Indiana Lawmakers Will Push for Update to 'Religious Freedom' Law

Indiana's top two Republican legislators will push for an update to the state's controversial "religious freedom" law, the pair said at a news conference today following a wave of national backlash to the state's newest law.

"Hopefully by doing this we'll put the whole issue to rest," Indiana Senate President Pro Tem David Long told reporters at the State Capitol.

Major corporations, athletes, celebrities and gay-rights activists have lambasted the state's legislature and governor for enacting Senate Bill 101, a "religious freedom" law that states government must clear a higher threshold when enforcing laws that contradict citizens' or corporations' religious beliefs.

Seattle Mayor Prohibits City Employees From Traveling to Indiana

Apple CEO Tim Cook Among Business Leaders Who Oppose Indiana 'Religious Freedom' Law

Both socially conservative advocates of the bill and pro-gay-rights opponents have said the bill could allow businesses to deny services to gays and lesbians based on their sexual preference. A Christian wedding photographer, for instance, could refuse to photograph a gay wedding by claiming it violated his or her religious beliefs, activists on both sides have said.

Indiana Gov. Mike Pence signed the bill last week, stating in a press conference after he signed it that the law was not meant to promote discrimination.

Indiana State House Speaker Brian Bosma today clarified that the bill was not intended to do that. Bosma called it a "misconception" that the law "allows the denial of services to any Hoosier. It doesn't do that."

Bosma and Long said they will "encourage" their legislative colleagues to pass an update to the bill in the four remaining weeks of their legislative session to specifically address that issue, saying both sides -- supporters and critics alike -- have mischaracterized what the bill would mean for gays and lesbians.

That question has been unclear since Pence signed it into law. In an interview with George Stephanopoulos on ABC's "This Week" on Sunday, Pence repeatedly dodged specific questions on whether the bill could mean denial of services for gays and lesbians, if companies claimed religious grounds for doing so. Pence repeatedly stated the bill was not about discrimination and had been mischaracterized.[I saw that interview; Pence looked absolutely godawful; as though he was totally unprepared for the question...]

Long and Bosma criticized Pence and said his ABC interview prompted them to call the press conference.

Pence "did not answer questions clearly" in that interview, Bosma said. [that's putting it really politely] Pointing to their interpretation that the law will not mean denial of services, Long said, of Pence, "It would've been helpful if he said that yesterday."

Major groups and corporations from Apple to Angie's List to the NCAA and the NBA have released statements expressing a range of "concern" and condemnation of the law. Social conservatives like Bob Vander Plaats of the influential Iowa-based group FAMiLY Leader have praised Pence and the law.

The fallout over SB 101 also hangs over the 2016 presidential race, as Pence has said he's considering a run for the GOP nomination and will reportedly finalize his decision sometime this spring.

Similar laws are on the books in other states, including neighboring Illinois. A similar federal law was signed by president Bill Clinton.

I'd bet that GOP legislators are getting an earful from their supporters in the business community, (not just high profile companies, but also from other business owners who will suffer if tourism tanks and conventions and other events start cancelling) who want no part of this...

[TPFKA@W]

Your use of the term "tourism" related to Indiana gave me the giggles. Except for very specific events I don't think we actually have a tourism clientele.

[Lord Jim]

Your use of the term "tourism" related to Indiana gave me the giggles

You mean they're not packin' 'em in at The Dan Quayle Vice Presidential Museum And Learning Center?



http://www.quaylemuseum.org

The first floor is dedicated to all who have served as Vice President. Each one gets his own display column, featuring political cartoons, letters, and other memorabilia. Much of the material has been purchased from eBay, including Millard Fillmore's hat, which is given special treatment. While Dan Quayle has donated more than 400 boxes of personal papers, many others have not.

Particular attention is given to the five Vice Presidents (and the three losing Vice Presidential candidates) from Indiana. At one time Indiana was a swing state, and Hoosiers like Schuyler Colfax, Thomas Hendricks, and Charles Fairbanks help secure it. Indiana State Highway 9, which runs through town, is known as The Vice Presidential Highway, connecting the homes of Quayle, Hendricks, and Woodrow Wilson's VP, Thomas Marshall.

Upstairs focuses on the life of Dan Quayle. Displayed are items like the "Danny" sweater he wore as a child and the sweater in which he played golf as Vice President. His hometown little league uniform and other items from Huntington are shown.

The dog-chewed law degree is clearly displayed, with photos of the offending pooch, Barnaby.

There are artifacts from his time as a Congressman and Senator, such as the desk item reading, "In appreciation of your continuing support of cruise missile programs." Gifts from foreign visits and foreign visitors are a staple here, as at many Presidential museums. Marilyn Quayle's inaugural gown is presented. So is the Bible he was sworn in on and his Vice Presidential hand-painted golf bag. The Quayle - Murphy Brown debate is chronicled, as is his short 2000 Presidential run.

The gift shop is a treasure trove. There are "Quayle 2000" buttons, and autographed copies of his books. We came away with Vice Presidential American flag lapel pins and Dick Cheney inaugural medallions. Gift shop proceeds contribute 10 percent of the Museum's operating budget (vs. 5 percent in most historical societies).

http://www.roadsideamerica.com/story/9788

Who wouldn't jump at the chance to visit that?