Tag Archives: business

Via the Indianapolis Star: The organizers of Gen Con, the city’s largest convention in attendance and economic impact, are threatening to move the event elsewhere if Gov. Mike Pence signs controversial religious freedom legislation that could allow business owners to refuse services to same-sex couples. “Legislation that could allow for refusal of service or discrimination against our attendees will have …

George Takei writes on his Facebook page: The Governor of Indiana has indicated that he will sign SB101—a law that allows businesses to discriminate against customers based on the proprietors’ religious beliefs. This bill is strikingly similar to one proposed—and vetoed due to public outcry—in Arizona. Such laws harken back to a time where our society was divided, and people …

Via press release from Truth Wins Out: “If LGBT people can be discriminated against based on faith, so can Christians,” said Truth Wins Out Executive Director Wayne Besen. “And there are millions of Americans who are not Christian and may abuse these laws to exclude people based on their Christian beliefs. This, of course, would be wrong, but in our …

“The legislation, SB 101, is about respecting and reassuring Hoosiers that their religious freedoms are intact. I strongly support the legislation and applaud the members of the General Assembly for their work on this important issue. I look forward to signing the bill when it reaches my desk.” – Indiana Gov. Mike Pence, reacting to yesterday’s overwhelming passage of the …

Via press release: “As a seminary graduate, this bill is deeply offensive,” said Heather Cronk, co-director of GetEQUAL. “The fact that religion is being used as a smokescreen for deeply hateful and vile sentiments by right-wing extremists, and then cemented into law, is not just un-Christian – it’s un-American.” As activist Scott Wooledge puts it: “I’ve engaged in the battles …

Watch it here. The bill is expected to be approved but the Democrats are really going to bat for us. UPDATE: The bill has passed overwhelmingly. Gov. Mike Pence is expected to sign it immediately.

As the above HRC map shows, anti-LGBT legislation continues to sweep the nation in advance of the coming ruling by SCOTUS. It appears that Indiana’s license to discriminate bill will be the next to go on the books. Dominic Holden reports at Buzzfeed: Of the 13 religious freedom bills introduced in state legislatures around the United States this year — …

In an op-ed published yesterday by the Washington Examiner, Rep. Randy Forbes (R-VA) and Sen. James Lankford (R-OK) argue that since Chipotle can choose to only buy humanely-raised pork, businesses can choose to only serve heterosexuals. Seriously. An excerpt: It is crucial that the same freedom of conscience enjoyed by the leadership of Chipotle remain equally available to business owners …

AL.com reports: Continental Bakery owner Carole Griffin has been making food and beverages for the people of Birmingham for three decades, a calling that has brought her success and visibility. During that time, Griffin has always made decisions about who to hire to help at her cafes without granting preference to anyone based on their gender, sexuality or sexual preference. …

Via the Indianapolis Star: An Indiana House committee today approved controversial religious freedom legislation after those on both sides of the issue rallied in the hallways of the Statehouse. The House Judiciary Committee voted 9-4 to send the measure to the full House for consideration. Supporters say Senate Bill 101 is necessary to protect the freedom of people with strong …

Democratic Oklahoma House Rep. Emily Virgin yesterday introduced a perfect amendment to the bill that would legalize anti-gay discrimination by businesses. Via Raw Story: “Any person not wanting to participate in any of the activities set forth in subsection A of this section based on sexual orientation, gender identity or race of either party to the marriage shall post notice …

During the Great Chicken Uproar of 2012, then-NYC Council Speaker Christine Quinn demanded that the NYU cafeteria close its tiny walk-up Chick-Fil-A window, which remains the chain’s sole outpost in the nation’s largest city. But not for very much longer as this summer the company will open its biggest store ever, a three-story 5000sf outlet near Herald Square. “We are …

From his campaign website: A bill that I recently introduced (SB 440) would protect businesses and religious entities who run their organizations according to their religious beliefs from being forced to violate their religious convictions in their businesses. This has outraged the LGBT community and they are crying discrimination while making themselves the only “target”, in reality it has nothing …

Hundreds of major corporations have also signed onto the SCOTUS brief I mentioned earlier today. Among those that signed on: Aetna, Alcoa, Amazon.com, American Airlines, American Express, Apple, AT&T, Barclays, BlackRock, Bristol-Myers Squibb, Capital One, Cardinal Health, Chubb, Cigna, Cisco, Citigroup, Colgate-Palmolive, ConAgra, Corning, Credit Suisse Securities, CVS Health, Delta Air Lines, Deutsche Bank, Dow Chemical, EBay, Facebook, General Electric, …

Follow local journalist Matt Comer as he reports from the scene via Twitter.

Kyle Mantyle reports at Right Wing Watch: During the discussion, Loesch said that if America doesn’t protect the supposed “right” of Christians to discriminate against gays in public accommodations, it will eventually lead to gays being stoned to death in the streets. Loesch claimed that a lot of atheists who listen to her radio program worry that not protecting this …

“Do you enjoy the freedom to live according to your conscience without being forced to promote ideas or behaviors contrary to your convictions? Do you believe men should be prohibited from using women’s restrooms? Should a gay T-shirt maker be forced to create anti-gay marriage T-shirts? Should a Muslim baker be mandated to make a gay wedding cake? That’s exactly …

“In Arkansas, two courageous state legislators, Rep. Ballinger and Sen. Hester, have introduced HB1228, the Conscience Protection Act, in the Arkansas state assembly. The legislators of the state of Arkansas need to hear from you right away… ask them to support HB 1228 and protect the individual conscience rights and religious liberties of the people of Arkansas. The consequences of …

Via the Human Rights Campaign: This week, Apple Inc., the world’s second largest information technology company, issued the following statement condemning the anti-LGBT bill in Arkansas, HB 1228 – a bill that could allow any person to undermine state laws by citing their personal religious belief as an excuse to discriminate against others: “At Apple inclusion inspires innovation. Our employees …