INDIANAPOLIS (AP)
— The threats to boycott Indiana have faded since the uproar this spring
over the state's religious objections law, which takes effect Wednesday.
Yet, the law criticized as possible legal discrimination against gays and
lesbians still troubles tourism efforts and looms over the state's
politics.
At least a
half-dozen local governments have taken up proposals to add sexual
orientation and gender identity to their anti-discrimination ordinances
since Republican Gov. Mike Pence signed the original bill in late March
signing of the bill. Meanwhile, the state has sought the services of a
public relations firm to repair its reputation.
Its actual impact
in Indiana is uncertain, as the Republican-dominated Legislature quickly
approved revisions prohibiting businesses from using the law as a legal
defense for refusing on religious grounds to provide services, goods,
facilities or accommodations.
A handful of
groups dropped their threats to pull conventions from Indianapolis after
the revisions to the Religious Freedom Restoration Act, or RFRA, were
adopted, although the controversy still hovers, said Chris Gahl, vice
president of the Indianapolis tourism group Visit Indy.
"The four-letter
word (RFRA) is still being brought up by convention planners," Gahl said.
"Certainly, they're aware the bill is in place, and it is still on their
mind. It is something they're still asking about."
Visit Indy is
waiting until September when it has six months of figures on hotel
occupancy and future event commitments before trying to calculate any cost
to the central Indiana tourism industry, which supports an estimated
75,000 jobs, Gahl said. But the true impact may not be known for years
because trade shows and conventions are planned well in advance.
"What's happening
on the ground in Indianapolis today is impacting five to seven, maybe even
10 years down the road," he said.
Indianapolis
already has a decade-old local ordinance prohibiting discrimination based
on sexual orientation or gender identity. But outside of the capital city,
some communities, including Hammond, Terre Haute and Columbus, have
adopted or taken up ordinances prohibiting discrimination based on sexual
orientation since the religious objections debate erupted.
The gay-rights
group Freedom Indiana is working to promote such local ordinances this
summer before it'll turns attention to pushing for the addition of sexual
orientation to the state's nondiscrimination laws during next year's
General Assembly session, said Katie Blair, the organization's campaign
manager.
"I don't think
we're going to have this resolved until we pass a full nondiscrimination
law statewide for LGBT Hoosiers," she said. "We've got to put our money
where our mouth is and show the country that we're a welcoming place for
all."
But there likely
won't be many court cases in Indiana over the law, even though its measure
received more attention than similar statutes in 19 other states, Indiana
University law professor Daniel Conkle said.
"In many states
in which these laws have been adopted, they have been relatively obscure,"
said Conkle, who testified in favor of the bill in legislative committees.
The Pence
administration has already paid a New York public relations firm $750,000
of what's expected to be a $2 million contract to rebuild the state's
image.
Democrats have
promised to make expanded nondiscrimination protections a top issue during
the 2016 legislative session and the gubernatorial campaigns.
Pence has
repeatedly said the issue isn't part of his legislative agenda. During his
re-election announcement this month, Pence said he shared responsibility
for the uproar over the law and that he wouldn't tolerate discrimination
against anyone.
But he vigorously
defended the law, saying that "in the changing tides of popular culture
there must be room for faith."
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