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[jbug617]

http://www.cnn.com/2015/03/25/politics/mike-pence-religious-freedom-bill-gay-rights/index.html

Washington (CNN)Indiana Gov. Mike Pence signed into law on Thursday a measure that allows businesses to turn away gay and lesbian customers in the name of "religious freedom."

The bill has sparked an uproar among gamers and church groups that hold their conventions in Indianapolis and businesses that are threatening to pull out of the city.

Even the NCAA -- which is less than two weeks from hosting its men's basketball Final Four in Indianapolis -- was critical, saying the organization is "committed to an inclusive environment where all individuals enjoy equal access to events" as it hinted the bill could damage the city's reputation as a host of major sporting events.

Jason Collins, who last year became the first openly gay active NBA player, asked Pence in a tweet whether it is "going to be legal for someone to discriminate against me & others when we come" to the Final Four in two weeks.

Still, Pence signed it in a private ceremony in his office Thursday. In a statement explaining his decision, he pointed to President Barack Obama's health care law -- which triggered a lawsuit by Hobby Lobby to ensure the company wasn't required to cover birth control through its employees' health insurance plans.

"The Constitution of the United States and the Indiana Constitution both provide strong recognition of the freedom of religion but today, many people of faith feel their religious liberty is under attack by government action," Pence said.

 

[chris121580]

I'm embarrassed for my state and ashamed to live here

 

[Couleurs]

Fuck off Indiana

 

[Davey Cakes]

I'm not gay but now I have less reason to go to Indiana.

 

[Anoregon]

It's really infuriating how this fucking myth that "religious freedom" means "the freedom for christians to do whatever the fuck they want and not tolerate anything they dislike" is continuing to not only be humored, but strengthened.

That's not what freedom of religion is. It never was. This shit needs to stop.

 

[Derwind]

Like I said before in the last thread covering this bill...

Slippery fucking slope.

There should be no justification to discriminate protected classes.

You should not operate in the public sphere if your beliefs force you to discrininate against others.

 

[Loofy]

I think we should wait until the law gets abused before we express outrage.

 

[partyphone]

weird how fiscal conservatives support awful and clearly unconstitutional laws that will lead to millions of dollars in legal fees.

no wait it's not weird appealing to bigotry is how these idiots keep getting reelected. the cost never matters.

I think we should wait until the law gets abused before we express outrage.

ridiculous. the law is legalized bigotry and clearly illegal.

 

[jon bones]

I think we should wait until the law gets abused before we express outrage.

Why?

 

[entremet]

Indiana is strange politically. It's hard to figure out.

It went to Obama twice, I believe, but it has some very far right laws.

 

[EdibleKnife]

I think we should wait until the law gets abused before we express outrage.

The fact that a law with the potential for abuse was signed in should be outrageous enough. Why wait?

 

[Loofy]

Why?

Just saying maybe they wont slip on that slope.

 

[ShinRPGamer]

I think we should wait until the law gets abused before we express outrage.

Explain why you think this.

 

[lobdale]

Oh cool, idiots with power hiding behind "religion" in the name of stupidity.

 

[ElectricBlanketFire]

I already hated this state before.

Good job dummies.

 

[balladofwindfishes]

Just saying maybe they wont slip on that slope.

This wasn't a bill created in good faith. Its purpose to was to slide down the slope.

 

[richiek]

Leslie Knope would never allow this to happen.

 

[EdibleKnife]

Just saying maybe they wont slip on that slope.

We've already had multiple stories of businesses discriminating against LGBTQ individuals before it was even law.

 

[Vanillalite]

Indiana is strange politically. It's hard to figure out.

It went to Obama twice, I believe, but it has some very far right laws.

People don't come out en mass except for presidential elections.

 

[Jokergrin]

mass exodus

 

[Armaros]

Just saying maybe they wont slip on that slope.

Because the rest of the nation outside of Indiana has a dearth of religious freedom and we need a state law specifically defending it. /s

Coincidentally, right after all of these States are now losing the gay marriage battle in Federal Court.

 

[snacknuts]

Time for me to move the fuck out of Indiana.

 

[ElectricBlanketFire]

In theory, Christians should never have to fall back on this law as they should be willing to serve everyone.

 

[demosthenes]

In theory, Christians should never have to fall back on this law as they should be willing to serve everyone.

But the gays... and reasons.

 

[partyphone]

In theory, Christians should never have to fall back on this law as they should be willing to serve everyone.

don't think there are many Theoretical Christians in the Midwest.

 

[djplaeskool]

In theory, Christians should never have to fall back on this law as they should be willing to serve everyone.

I said it in another thread, and i'll say it again here;
The concept that Christians are trying so hard to NOT serve is hilarious to me.

 

[Futureman]

how hateful and stupid do you have to be to run a business and refuse to serve someone because of sexual orientation? Sick.

 

[Dicer]

It's fucking embarrassing that this sort of thing happens in this day and age...

 

[theWB27]

I'm embarrassed for my state and ashamed to live here

Pretty much. Loved being gone for 3 years and can't wait to get back out for good.

 

[MJPIA]

A lawsuit should slap this down hard because of the 14th amendment wouldn't it?

"Legislation that could allow for refusal of service or discrimination against our attendees will have a direct negative impact on the state's economy, and will factor into our decision-making on hosting the convention in the state of Indiana in future years," Adrian Swartout, the owner of Gen Con LLC, told Pence in a letter.

The Christian Church (Disciples of Christ), which also holds a convention in Indianapolis, told Pence it could cancel its 2017 convention there, as well.

The chief executive of tech giant Salesforce told Pence that his company -- which had bought Indianapolis-based Exact Target for $2.5 billion in 2013 -- would abandon the state and its expansion plans there if he signed the measure into law.

And the Republican mayor of Indianapolis, Greg Ballard, broke with Pence on the bill, saying it would put his city's economy at risk.

"Indianapolis strives to be a welcoming place that attracts businesses, conventions, visitors and residents," Ballard said Wednesday in a statement. "We are a diverse city, and I want everyone who visits and lives in Indy to feel comfortable here."

In the meantime it seems like this is is gonna hurt their economy.

 

[Regurgitated]

Just saying maybe they wont slip on that slope.

That bill was the toboggan to slip and slide down that slope as much as they want.

 

[Nairume]

Guess the state is about to say goodbye to that sweet GenCon deal.

 

[afternoon delight]

Uppity queers trying to eat in the same establishment as me on Sundays, talk about keeping up with the Joneses, they want it all, it's gosh awful.

 

[Mesoian]

A lawsuit should slap this down hard because of the 14th amendment wouldn't it?


In the meantime it seems like this is is gonna hurt their economy.

Yup. GenCon said that, if this passed, they would not hold GenCon in Indiana anymore.

So that's something like 20 million dollars gone right there.

 

[SomedayTheFire]

I think we should wait until the law gets abused before we express outrage.

That's bullshit and homophobic.

 

[gofreak]

Honestly, if I was in Indiana and a service provider, I'd probably start doing stuff just to highlight how stupid the whole thing is.

Female driver? Sorry, I can't sell you petrol.

Want to come on my bus? Let me segregate you according to my religious caste system.

A gay parent? Sorry, can't let you buy those diapers.

Of course, in reality these things will only affect the small minorities, because that's where it becomes economically feasible to be an asshole and wield discrimination. At least, assuming the rest of the majority in your area feels similar. So, if there's a decent majority in Indiana, it needs to stand up against businesses economically that engage this law.

In my own country, the right has been asking for a religious conscience law like this in the wake of the likelihood of same sex marriage being passed in a couple of months. It's not up for debate according to the government, but I found it funny that the week previous, the exact same people were condemning Elton John & his mates for their D&G consumer boycott.

 

[entremet]

People don't come out en mass except for presidential elections.

Well liberals don't apparently lol.

 

[snacknuts]

Guess the state is about to say goodbye to that sweet GenCon deal.

They won't even be the first domino to fall. The CEO of Salesforce.com, which bought Indy-based ExactTarget last year, has already announced that they are suspending business travel to Indy and reducing investment. As a resident, this is going to be unpleasant, but I want Indiana to get raked over the coals for this nonsense.

Yup. GenCon said that, if this passed, they would not hold GenCon in Indiana anymore.

So that's something like 20 million dollars gone right there.

$50MM a year.

 

[darkwing]

what year is this?

boggles the mind

 

[ultron87]

Can't believe shit like this happens in 2015. Insane.

Yup. GenCon said that, if this passed, they would not hold GenCon in Indiana anymore.

So that's something like 20 million dollars gone right there.

Gen Con is under contract till 2020, so they can't bail immediately.

 

[Mesoian]

what year is this?

boggles the mind

Truman show 1965

Can't believe shit like this happens in 2015. Insane.



Gen Con is under contract till 2020, so they can't bail immediately.

I wonder if they'll break contract. Stranger things have happened.

Interesting times indeed.

 

[ElectricBlanketFire]

Gen Con is under contract till 2020, so they can't bail immediately.

Would they have grounds to break the agreement?

 

[Moofers]

I'm embarrassed for my state and ashamed to live here

Hey man its okay. I live on the west coast now but I'm from Wisconsin and every time I hear about Scott Walker my blood boils a little.

 

[Mesoian]

Would they have grounds to break the agreement?

I'm sure there's a couple million dollar fee they could pay to get out of it.

 

[commedieu]

so insecure about their beliefs.

 

[PepsimanVsJoe]

I had a dream last night that I was somewhere in Indiana.
It was a total hole; all of the buildings were boarded up and abandoned and there wasn't anybody for seemingly miles.

Then I see this news today.
Man what the fuck.

 

[Maximus.]

Pathetic people will hide behind their religion for their fucked up ideologies and decisions. How the fuck can a fair government allow bullshit like this.

 

[PhoenixDark]

They realize these laws will be struck down by the SC right? All it's going to take is one challenge.

 

[entremet]

Why did GOP Governors go so right? It's like they're taking cues from the idiots in Congress.

I remember when GOP Governors were more moderate. We've seen this with Kansas and their radical tax cuts, Wisconsin attacking public unions and education, refusing to expand Obamacare, and so on and on.

 

[RumblingRosco]

Needs to be repealed.