AçıklamaBy ANDREW DeMILLO and TOM DAVIES
Associated Press
LITTLE ROCK, Ark. (AP) – Lawmakers in Arkansas and Indiana passed legislation Thursday that they hoped would quiet the national uproar over new religious objections laws that opponents say are designed to offer a legal defense for anti-gay discrimination.
The Arkansas House voted 76-17 to pass a revised religious objections measure after Gov. Asa Hutchinson asked for changes in the wake of mounting criticism that a previous bill endorsed discrimination against gays and lesbians. The legislation was headed to Hutchinson, whose office said he planned to sign it into law.
The measure is similar to a bill sent to the governor earlier this week, but Hutchinson said he wanted it revised to more closely mirror a 1993 federal law. Supporters of the compromise bill say it addresses concerns that the original proposal was discriminatory.
In Indiana, the House and Senate approved revisions to a law signed by Republican Gov. Mike Pence last week after a widespread outcry from businesses and gay-rights groups. If Pence approves the language, it will mark the first time sexual orientation and gender identity are mentioned in state statute.
The Indiana amendment prohibits service providers from using the law as a legal defense for refusing to provide services, goods, facilities or accommodations. It also bars discrimination based on race, color, religion, ancestry, age, national origin, disability, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or U.S. military service.
The measure exempts churches and affiliated schools, along with nonprofit religious organizations.
House Speaker Brian Bosma said the agreement sends a “very strong statement” that the state will not tolerate discrimination.
The law “cannot be used to discriminate against anyone,” he said.
Business leaders, many of whom had opposed the law or canceled travel to the state because of it, called the amendment a good first step but said more work needs to be done. Gay-rights groups noted that Indiana still does not include the LGBT community as a protected class in its civil-rights law, but Bosma said lawmakers met with representatives of the gay community and said they believed the new language addressed many of their concerns.
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