Living in Indiana, there is certainly a huge storm going on regarding RFRA positions. For what it's worth, the business community and press are apoplectic at the Governor and Assembly over this fiasco and there may be real opportunity for Dems to take advantage in 2016, given the big money Chamber, Corporate, and Event entities may let the GOP wither on the vine.
Wanting to look at facts beyond everyone's rhetoric, here's my take. Mom was right - we are judged by the company we keep and if you have a loudmouth, ignorant friend you're too close to - their actions will also be attributed to you.
At the invitation only signing ceremony, present were representatives from the heavy backers of SB101:
Advance America (Eric Miller) - who promoted support for the law not just making someone stick two guys on top of a wedding cake in violation of their beliefs, to protect against individuals who ARE gay/trans or just SUPPORT same sex marriage. Quote: "Churches, Christian businesses and individuals deserve protection from those who support homosexual marriages and those who support government recognition and approval of gender identity (men who dress as women). SB 101 will help provide the protection!" And, "Please contact your State Representative right away with the following message:Please vote YES for Senate Bill 101 to protect religious freedom in Indiana. Individuals, Christian businesses and churches shouldn’t be harmed by those supporting homosexual marriages.”
(www.advanceamerica.com).
From Mr. Micah Clark's essay on the American Family Association of Indiana: "While it is easy to focus on the wild claims and behaviors of homosexual activists today on issues like SB 101, let’s not ignore the slight of hand that is happening over time moving from fair treatment, to our being made to embrace homosexuality." (www.afain.net/wp-content/uploads/2015/03/ForceToEmbrace.pdf).
And now the "clarification" has begun. The Indiana House Republicans issued clarification and FAQs, which indicate that the law is really just a technical, administrative legal clarification - consistent with other state's. That's all. Just a lot of ballyhoo over an other technical statutory clarification (www.indianahouserepublicans.com).
The proponents are selling hook, line, and sinker that the Governor's premise that there's no way this law promotes discrimination. In fact, according to Gov. Pence, the law is really, really, just being misinterpreted by the media and it's really Obamacare's fault that the state had to pass this law to clarify that the state can't impede religious practice (indypolitics.org/2015/03/26/pence-defends-rfra).
According to Gov. Pence - who in listening to the presser was extremely condescending to the press, this law has never undermined anti-discrimination law, when asked by a reporter that the law can be used to refuse services to LBGT. When asked specifically if the law could be used to justify turning away LGBT, Pence stated, "that's up to the judiciary". And then went back to how the media mischaracterized the law and went back to the Hobby Lobby case. Comfortingly, Gov. Pence believes, "Indiana is on a roll", "this is overdue in Indiana and we should have done this a long time ago.", and "this is a big misunderstanding", and when asked about economic backlash, "I'll call them."
Governor Pence keeps indicating in his press conference that the RFRA has never been used to overturn anti-discrimination laws. What he doesn't mention is that sexual orientation isn't addressed by federal antidiscrimination laws.
Being a bit confused, I went to the Indiana General Assembly site to review the law and the proposed amendments - as the bill worked through the assembly. And, each proposed amendment, proposed to clarify various points of language and specifically to prevent sexual orientation discrimination, was defeated strictly along party lines. (www.iga.in.gov/legislative/2015). Interestingly, the reporters noted some of the amendments that would have provided clarification - and Pence continually just stated that he supported this law.