AFSCME, other organizations fight discriminatory Indiana law Thanks to strong, quick pressure from AFSCME and numerous other organizations and individuals, a controversial new Indiana law that opened the door to discrimination was amended. In late March, Indiana Gov. Mike Pence signed the state’s Religious Freedom Restoration Act (RFRA), which claims that government cannot intrude on one’s religious liberty unless it can prove a compelling reason to do so. But the controversial law in fact opened the door to discrimination. Specifically, businesses were given the right to refuse service to customers because of their sexual orientation, and the right to refuse to hire someone of a different religion than their own. The law does not apply to public services. AFSCME, along with the Indiana State AFL-CIO, were among one of first groups to fight back against the law. AFSCME pulled its Oct. 9-11 women’s conference out of Indianapolis and will move the event to another state because of its “disgust and disappointment with Governor Pence’s discriminatory law.” Many CSEA leaders and activists attend this conference. “This un-American law sets Indiana and our nation back decades in the struggle for civil rights,” said AFSCME President Lee Saunders. “It is an embarrassment and cannot be tolerated.” CSEA and AFSCME have long stood against discrimination and other social injustices, whether the fight is in our communities or across the world. The Indiana religious freedom law, which stemmed from extremist leaders and policies, is a direct attack on the state’s citizens and their rights. National backlash AFSCME was the first organization to cancel a major event after the Indiana law was enacted, but numerous corporate leaders, elected leaders, celebrities and organizations soon also spoke out and took action in opposition to the law. One company canceled a planned corporate expansion, and several entertainers canceled shows in the state. Even the college NCAA basketball tournament, which held its final rounds in Indianapolis, was affected by the backlash as athletic staff at some public and private universities boycotted attending the games. While there is a federal Religious Freedom Restoration Act and 19 states have religious freedom laws on the books, they are significantly different than Indiana’s law. While the other laws are specific to disputes between a person or entity and a government, Indiana’s law was the first that applies to disputes between private citizens. Because of the law’s broad language, it ultimately can be applied to allow discrimination. Many of the states that have religious freedom laws also have laws that prohibit discrimination based on sexual orientation. Indiana has no such law. Pressure brings change Because of the public pressure, Indiana leaders enacted amendments that they claim will prohibit the law from superseding local ordinances that ban discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity. Critics note that the amendments are insufficient, as only a handful of communities in Indiana have such anti-discrimination ordinances. — Janice Gavin May 2015 The Work Force 5
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