Indiana Lawmakers Announce Deal To Update Religious Freedom Law

Indiana lawmakers announced Thursday morning that they had reached a deal to update the state's controversial religious freedom law so that it states the law cannot be used to discriminate against anyone, including gay and lesbian customers who feared the original law would allow businesses to deny them service.

The compromise was announced by Indiana House Speaker Brian Bosma and Senate President Pro Tem David Long, who were accompanied by business leaders from around the state.

"Hoosier hospitality had to be restored," Bosma said.

The language in the legislation states that the law does not, "Authorize a provider to refuse to offer or provide services, facilities, use of public accommodations, goods, employment, or housing to any member or members of the general public based on race, color, religion, ancestry, age, national origin, disability, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, or United States military service."

The Religious Freedom Restoration Act has been under fire since Gov. Mike Pence signed it into lawearlier this month. While supporters say the law ensures the government can't infringe on how they exercise their religious beliefs, opponents argue it gives individuals and businesses carte blanche to discriminate against gays and lesbians.

Earlier in the week, Pence asked state lawmakers to clarify the law to make it clear that it does not give businesses a license to deny service to gay and lesbian citizens. He defended the law, but said it had been "grossly mischaracterized" by the opponents and the national media.

He was also facing a barrage of criticism from business leaders around the state. The Indianapolis-based company Angie's List put a $40 million expansion project on hold, and Apple CEO Tim Cook authored an op-ed in the Washington Post, in which he wrote, "on behalf of Apple, I'm standing up to oppose this new wave of legislation -- wherever it emerges. I'm writing in the hopes that many more will join this movement. From North Carolina to Nevada, these bills under consideration truly will hurt jobs, growth and the economic vibrancy of parts of the country where a 21st-century economy was once welcomed with open arms."

It is unclear whether the clarification will be hailed by the state's Democrats, who had called for a full repeal of the law earlier this week.

"The most clear, decisive and understandable thing we can do is to repeal the statue and repeal it promptly. Once that is done we have a foundation and a beginning to repair the state's image. Reparing the state's image will entail putting new provisions into the law to make clear that everyone in Indiana is treated fairly and equally," Democratic House Minority Leader Scott Pelath said in a press conference later Tuesday. "That may be a tough remedy for the governor and the legislators to accept, but they must accept it."

Senate Democratic Leader Tim Lenane similarly called for a "bold" move by the state, recalling the disapproving reaction from the business community.

"They clearly see something in this bill which is very, very toxic and very, very wrong. They do think that unfortunately this bill sends a terrible message about what's going on in the state of Indiana," he said.