The Indiana Family Institute and the American Family Association of Indiana yesterday filed a lawsuit challenging the measure that was passed and signed into law early this year limiting the damage of Indiana’s Religious Freedom Restoration Act (RFRA).
The group claim the “fix” violates their “religious liberty,” and are challenging not only the state’s law, but also non-discrimination ordinances in Indianapolis and Carmel that include sexual orientation and gender identity protections.
Freedom Indiana blasted the legal challenge in a statement to the Indianapolis Business Journal: “RFRA taught us that Hoosiers have no tolerance for creating a license to discriminate against those who have historically been treated unequally,” said Jen Wagner, a spokesperson for the organization. “We hope lawmakers ignore this distraction and listen instead to the voices of job creators, faith and community leaders, local public servants, grassroots supporters and families who want our state to be a safe, welcoming place for all people.”
Brad Jacklin, press secretary for Indianapolis Mayor Greg Ballard, wrote in an email, “At first glance, this looks more like a sneak attack on the residents of Indianapolis than a serious lawsuit. The rights of LGBT people and their families can co-exist with the rights of people with sincere religious beliefs to practice their faith, as we have seen in Indianapolis for the past decade.”
