A Look at Widely Criticized Indiana Law on Religious Freedom

Indiana lawmakers scrambled Monday to control damage from a widely criticized new law that critics fear could permit discrimination against gays and lesbians. The state is one of more than a dozen that have passed or are considering measures aimed at preventing government from infringing on people's religious beliefs.

A look at the law and what's being done to address the criticism:

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ROOTED IN HISTORY

The law, which takes effect July 1, prohibits state laws that "substantially burden" a person's ability to follow his or her religious beliefs unless the government can show that it has a compelling interest and that the action is the least restrictive means of achieving it. The definition of "person" includes religious institutions, businesses and associations.

Indiana officials, including Gov. Mike Pence, say it's based on a 1993 federal "religious freedom" law that has been upheld by courts. They note that President Bill Clinton signed the federal law and that President Barack Obama proposed similar legislation while an Illinois senator.

Twenty states now have similar laws in place, and Arkansas is poised to follow suit.

Indiana University law professor Deborah Widiss said the Indiana law closely tracks the federal law as the Supreme Court interpreted it in last year's Hobby Lobby case, which found the retailer and other closely held private businesses with religious objections could opt out of providing the free contraceptive coverage required by the Affordable Care Act.

That ruling, along with those legalizing gay marriage, have helped fuel the Indiana backlash, said Widiss, who noted that similar laws across the country have not "been a sort of blank check to discriminate."

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STRONG REACTIONS

Many Indiana businesses have posted signs or stickers saying they serve everyone, and the home page for Visit Indy included a message that all are welcome and a link to an LGBT guide. But other companies and organizations have canceled future travel to Indiana or halted expansion plans in the state. The Indianapolis-based NCAA says it is concerned about the law's impact on future Indiana events.

Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel sent letters to more than a dozen Indiana businesses on Friday urging them to move to Illinois. The Rev. Jesse Jackson called the law "offensive." The public-employee union known as AFSCME announced it would relocate its 2015 Women's Conference, scheduled for October, out of Indianapolis because of the law.

Even though business leaders and others spoke out against the bill before its passage, Republican leaders said Monday that the state could not have anticipated the backlash.

"I don't think we've ever seen a reaction like this to the laws passed historically in the other states or when the federal government did it," said Senate President Pro Tem David Long. "Clearly people are reacting differently to this law. We didn't see that coming."

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CALL FOR CLARIFICATION

Republican leaders said Monday that they would work with lawmakers on language to clarify the intent of the law and eliminate concerns about discrimination. They did not offer specifics but said the goal was to dispel misconceptions.

They did not appear eager to add sexual orientation to Indiana's civil rights laws, calling that a "big policy discussion" to raise with just four weeks left in this year's legislative session.

Pence has said adding state protections for gays and lesbians is not part of his agenda.

Democratic House Minority Leader Scott Pelath said Indiana has been embarrassed nationally and called for the law to be repealed.

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PANNING PENCE

Republican House Speaker Brian Bosma and Long both said Pence failed to clearly answer repeated questions during a television appearance Sunday about whether the law meant it was legal to discriminate against gays and lesbians in Indiana.

Pence said last week after signing the bill that he would not have done so if he thought it discriminated against anyone, Long noted.

"It would have been helpful if he said that yesterday to clarify where he stands. But the fact that he didn't for whatever reason, we're setting the record straight here today," Long said.

For Pence, the law has resurrected social issues that he was known for in Congress but has tried largely to avoid in favor of jobs and education initiatives since being elected governor in 2012.