In a stunning, politically-correct turnaround following a week of LGBT protests and media and business opposition, Indiana Gov. Mike Pence [right] yesterday signed into law a pro-homosexual legislative “fix” of the state’s Religious Freedom Restoration Act (RFRA)–effectively turning it into Indiana’s first statewide homosexual “rights” law.

The language of the revised RFRA crafted by Indiana’s Republican House and Senate leaders and signed into law by Gov. Pence stipulates that the new RFRA “does not authorize a provider to refuse to offer or provide services, facilities, use of public accommodation, goods, employment, or housing” to any Indiana citizen on the basis of “sexual orientation” and “gender identity”–in addition to the usual criteria such as race, sex and disability. [See the full language HERE.]

When asked specifically at a press conference yesterday if the revised RFRA legislation could be used to defend the besieged owners of an Indiana pizza shop who told a reporter that theoretically they would not serve a homosexual “wedding,” Indiana House Speaker Brian Bosma [left] said:

“We can unequivocally say that RFRA cannot be used to discriminate against anyone.”

The law still protects churches and religious, non-profit organizations from being forced to participate in homosexual “weddings”–but not everyday small businessmen like the owners of the Indianapolis cookie stand “Just Cookies.” In 2012, the Christian owners of Just Cookies declined on principle to make “rainbow cookies” for a homosexual student group at Purdue University-Indianapolis. “Gay’ activists led a campaign against the company using Indianapolis’ “sexual orientation” statute; ultimately the owners settled with the city without paying damages. [To read about other conscience victims of the homosexual agenda, see this WND Whistleblower article by the author.]

Thus, a RFRA law that in the eyes of many conservatives was about, in part, protecting small business people of faith from being forced to participate in homosexuality-based “marriages”–was suddenly transformed into a law that specifically rejects protections for businesses owned by Christians and others morally opposed to the idea of celebrating homosexual behavior and same-sex relationships.

As Barbwire.com founder and Liberty University associate dean  Matt Barber (an AFTAH Board Member) puts it, the Religious Freedom Restoration Act had morphed–through Republican capitulation to corporate, media and “gay” pressure–into the “Religious Freedom Destruction Act.”

[The Graphic seen below was published by the Human Rights Campaign, Organized LGBT, anti-Christian lobbyists whose co-founder, Terrance Patrick Bean (right), was arrested in Novemnber 2014 on multible counts of sodomizing a 15 year old boy.]

Appeasement Emboldens ‘Gay’ Lobby: Graphic for homosexual activist group Human Rights Campaign demands more pro-homosexual legislation in Indiana following the Republican-led legislature’s and Gov. Mick Pence’s capitulation negating the state’s Religious Freedom law. Click on HRC.org graphic above to enlarge.

Needless to say, the RFRA reversal has not appeased LGBT activists, who are demanding a comprehensive statewide homosexual/transgender “rights” law in Indiana. See the graphic above and this Human Rights Campaign article that goes with it.

Below is an excerpt from the Indianapolis Star on Gov. Pence signing the RFRA “fix” and the legislative action that preceded his action. There is video of a joint press conference by House Speaker Bosma and Senate President Pro Tem David Long [right] on the Star’s website:

“The ["fix"] measure could put to rest some of the harsher criticisms that Indiana Republicans have suffered through in the past week. But it is unlikely to make either liberal or conservative activists happy and easily prefaces a future Statehouse battle over LGBT protections.

In fact, Long said he thought it was likely lawmakers would take up full LGBT protections next year.

The compromise legislation specifies that the new religious freedom law cannot be used as a legal defense to discriminate against patrons based on their sexual orientation or gender identity.

The proposal goes much further than a “preamble” that was proposed earlier in the week, and, if it stands, would be the first time any protections against discrimination have been extended to gays and lesbians in state law. But it doesn’t go as far as establishing gays and lesbians as a protected class of citizens statewide or repealing the law outright, both things Republican leaders have said they could not support.

Specifically, the new language says the RFRA does not authorize a provider — including businesses or individuals — to refuse to offer or provide services, facilities, goods, employment, housing or public accommodation to any member of the public based on sexual orientation or gender identity, in addition to race, color, religion, ancestry, age, national origin, disability, sex or military service.”

Peter LaBarbera”
Twitter: @PeterLaBarbera

April 2nd, 2015

Matt Barber Urges Gov. Pence to Veto Pro-’Gay’ Changes to Religious Freedom Law, Not to Succumb to ‘Mob Rule’

[Our good friend and AFTAH Board Matt Barber just posted the following open letter to Indiana Gov. Mike Pence–concerning proposed changes to the state’s Religious Freedom Restoration Act–on his excellent website, Barbwire.com. Is it actually possible that we will see a pro-family “religious freedom” law turned into a homosexual “special rights” law in Republican-run Indiana? Let’s pray that this does not happen and that Gov. Pence will not capitulate to the demands of an intolerant Sin Lobby. – Peter LaBarbera, AFTAH; @PeterLaBarbera ]

The Religious Freedom Destruction Act

http://barbwire.com/2015/04/02/the-religious-freedom-destruction-act/_____

Dear Governor Pence,

Well, I guess “the fix is in.”

Time is short so I’ll be very direct. This past week or so you’ve experienced the visceral wrath of the organized left, spearheaded by homosexual activist extremists. You’re not used to it. We Christian advocates for religious liberty are. While their bark is loud, shrill and obnoxious, I assure you, it’s much worse than their bite. We are witnessing governance by mob rule. It’s tyranny of the minority and you’re letting it happen.

With all due respect, sir, show some moxie, would you? It wasn’t broken and the alleged “fix” that the Indiana legislature, at your request, has proposed to the Indiana Religious Freedom Restoration Act (RFRA), will destroy the law beyond all recognition. In fact, it will turn it into the “RFDA” – the “Religious Freedom Destruction Act.” No bill at all would have been better than this anti-Christian, sexual anarchist disaster.

What was intended as a shield to every American’s First Amendment-guaranteed religious liberty, as proposed, will now become a sword used to destroy it. What was designed to defend people of faith against being discriminated against and bullied will, instead, codify anti-religious discrimination and bullying into law. It will unconstitutionally force people of faith, under penalty of law, to affirmatively violate their sincerely held religious conscience. It has been turned into a weapon that compels people of faith to disobey God or face government sanction.

This is unacceptable.

As the American Family Association’s Bryan Fischer correctly notes, “The revised language has now been released, and it’s even worse than we thought. The new language forces Christian bakers to bake cakes in violation of their faith and conscience. Gov. Pence tried to fix something that wasn’t broken, and he broke it. The ‘cure’ in this case is far worse than the non-existent disease. Gov. Pence must veto this misbegotten piece of legislation.”

This is a complete 180. If this is the final version, it would be better if this “RFRA” had never even been introduced. Governor, again, you must veto this and clarify, perhaps even using similar language, that no person with a sincere religious belief against redefining the Christian definition of marriage may be compelled, in any way, shape or form, to participate in any event or endorse any message that violates the biblical tenets of sexual morality and natural marriage. If you do not, then you will become an enemy to religious liberty and your chances of ever becoming president are over.

It cannot be denied. The amended language to this bill gives special veto power to homosexuals and other gender confused individuals over the First Amendment-protected rights of religious people. If you sign it, you will truly be granting the radical left a “license to discriminate.”

My dear friend and fellow constitutional attorney Jan LaRue put it succinctly: “It’s a Judas ‘kiss’ to people of faith – and during Holy Week, no less.”

Governor Pence, don’t you dare sell out people of faith for thirty pieces of silver.

Sincerely,

The Christians

Micah Clark, American Family Association of Indiana

“It also appears that under the changes released today, it may be impossible for a business or individual to even make a claim under RFRA [the Indiana Religious Freedom Restoration Act] of an infringement of their religious liberty in many parts of Indiana.”–Micah Clark, AFA-Indiana

Micah Clark, executive director of American Family Association of Indiana–and a wonderful pro-family advocate who does outstanding work in the Hoosier State–sent the following e-letter to his constituents today–after new proposed language surfaced amending the state’s new religious freedom law:

________________

Friends,

As you know, over the weekend, Governor Mike Pence began discussing a clarification of Indiana Senate Bill 101. This was due to the mass misinformation and fear campaign mobilized against it and against our entire state. He did not ask for a change to a newly enacted statute which has been proven, established and non-controversial language for 22 years.

The actions taken by the Indiana General Assembly do not clarify our Religious Freedom Restoration Act’s purposes or goals. Our legal advisors tell us that it actually changes our law in a way that could now erode religious freedom across Indiana. If this revised law does not adequately protect religious liberty for all, it is not really a religious freedom act.

What is worse, unlike our current law, this new language’s impact is something upon which few attorneys or legal scholars will likely agree.

We have also been advised that it is possible that the proposed changes may no longer protect a company like Hobby Lobby from participation in abortion matters. One of the primary motivations behind SB 101 was to protect the rights of conscience for business owners regarding their beliefs about abortion.

It also appears that under the changes released today, it may be impossible for a business or individual to even make a claim under RFRA of an infringement of their religious liberty in many parts of Indiana.

On the positive side there is some language left which protects Hoosiers from a government action against their religious beliefs.

We understand that legislators have been threatened with significant economic harms and bullied in many ways. We understand that Indiana has been unfairly harmed by blatant lies and a misinformation campaign around something for which RFRA laws have never been successfully used. We do not blame legislators for wanting to protect Indiana from a mob mentality. political opportunism, and mass hysteria.

AFA of Indiana is asking Governor Pence to veto these changes for the above reasons and because they went far beyond what he asked the legislature to do. If you would like to contact the Governor’s office, you can call 317-232-4567.

Thank you, and please continue to pray for this matter, our leaders, and our great state.

Best regards,
Micah Clark
Executive Director