l****z
发帖数: 29846 | 1 Seattle mayor bans official travel to Indiana in wake of 'religious freedom'
law
The interstate backlash to Indiana's new religious freedom law is growing
even as state lawmakers move to clarify the legislation, with Seattle Mayor
Ed Murray vowing to issue an executive order this week banning city workers
from taxpayer-funded travel to the state.
The Seattle mayor's statement is the latest boycott threat to emerge over
claims that the law has the potential to discriminate against gays and
others.
Murray, a Democrat who is openly gay, says the law doesn't reflect Seattle
residents’ values. He also has told all city departments to review their
contracts to see whether Seattle is doing business with any company whose
headquarters is in Indiana.
“Seattleites know that discrimination has no place in our city,” he said
in a statement over the weekend. “That’s just equality 101.”
The primary concern is that the law might allow a business to discriminate
against gay residents, such as a baker being allowed refuse an order from a
gay couple for a wedding cake.
But state lawmakers and Republican Gov. Mike Pence have been defending and
trying to explain the Religious Freedom Restoration Act ever since the
governor signed it into law on Thursday. They note that then-President Bill
Clinton in 1993 signed similar federal legislation into law, and 19 other
states also have similar policies.
However, the Indiana law differs in several ways, primarily in that it
allows a business to assert a right to "the free exercise of religion."
On Monday, state Senate President Pro Tem David Long and House Speaker Brian
Bosma, both Republicans, held a press conference to further explain the law
. They said they will swiftly try to "clarify" its language.
“The new law does not discriminate,” Long said. “And it will not be
allowed. To the extent that we need to clarify through legislative action,
we plan to do just that.”
Aside from Indiana, 15 other states have introduced legislation in 2015 to
craft or alter their religious freedom laws. Oklahoma, South Carolina and
Texas have introduced legislation to amend their laws. Arkansas, Colorado,
Georgia, Hawaii, Michigan, Montana, Nevada, North Carolina, South Dakota,
Utah, West Virginia and Wyoming are looking to put a similar law on their
books.
Bosma acknowledged a major concern is whether businesses will now be legally
permitted to deny services to some people, as a result of the law, and that
even he is unclear.
“We don’t believe that will be the effect,” he said. “We are looking at
options to clarify that that's the case.”
Long and Bosma also conceded they called the press conference because Pence
failed to clearly explain the law during an appearance Sunday on ABC’s “
This Week.”
Pence said the legislation prohibits Indiana laws that "substantially burden
" a person's ability to follow his or her religious beliefs, with the
definition of "person" including religious institutions, businesses and
associations.
However, he did not answer directly when asked six times whether, under the
law, it would be legal for a merchant to refuse to serve gay customers.
Long on Monday also denied that a clarification of the law would be needed
before this weekend’s men’s NCAA Final Four basketball championships, in
Indianapolis.
A record-breaking 158,682 people attended the games last year in Texas. And
any boycott would have the potential to cut much anticipated revenue for
Indianapolis-area hotels, restaurants and other businesses.
The NCAA, whose headquarters is in Indianapolis, also has expressed concern
about the law, as figures in corporate America and Hollywood voice their
opposition.
“We are especially concerned about how this legislation could affect our
student-athletes and employees,” said NCAA President Mark Emmert. “We
intend to closely examine the implications of this bill and how it might
affect future events as well as our workforce."
Angie’s List, the business-rating website, this weekend put on hold plans
to expand its Indianapolis headquarters.
Actor George Takei is calling for a boycott. And actor Ashton Kutcher
recently tweeted: “Indiana are you also going to allow Christian
establishments to ban Jews from coming in? Or Vice Versa? Religious freedom?
?? #OUTRAGE.” | T*********I
发帖数: 10729 | 2 向创造工作的企业宣战，向宗教信徒宣战，好孟浪的市长
He also has told all city departments to review their
contracts to see whether Seattle is doing business with any company whose
headquarters is in Indiana. |
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