Indiana lawmakers Senate President Pro Tem David Long, R-Fort Wayne, and House Speaker Brian Bosma R-Indianapolis, held a press conference to announce the “fix” to the conflict between the Religious Freedom and Restoration Act (RFRA) and LGBT civil rights. The leaders repeated several times that they wanted to correct the “misinterpretation” and “misperception” of the law, taking no responsibility for drafting the law that created the so called misperceptions. The lawmakers also said they wanted to make a strong statement that “we value each and every Hoosier.”
On Monday Bosma said, “I’m looking for a surgical solution, and I think the least intrusive surgery is to clarify that (the law) cannot be used to support the denial of goods, facilities or services to any member of the public.” The proposed “fix” was not revealed during the press conference other to say that it prevents discrimination against any group. It is expected to be signed by the end the day, at the latest tomorrow morning before thousands of visitors descend on the state for the Final Four.
Activists are suggesting that the proposed “fix” does not go far enough because it does not provide for comprehensive discrimination protections for sexual orientation and gender identity in Indiana. “While the specifics of the solution to the RFRA law in Indiana are still to be seen, the easier fix for the nation is to add sexual orientation and gender identity to the Civil Rights Act so we do not create a patchwork of different and unequal protections throughout the country,” said Stampp Corbin, national LGBT activist and former Chair of Obama LGBT Leadership Council.
