Indiana Gov. Mike Pence pushed Tuesday for a fix to the state’s controversial Religious Freedom Restoration Act, in response to concerns that it would allow businesses to discriminate against gay and lesbian couples on religious grounds.
“It would be helpful to move legislation this week that makes it clear that this law does not give businesses the right to deny services to anyone,” Pence said during a press conference. “This is a clarification. But it is also a fix.”
Pence has maintained that the law’s intent was not to legally condone intolerance, nor would discrimination be allowed under the law — but opponents have voiced alarm that the law does not include any protections against such discrimination on religious grounds.
“I can appreciate that that’s become the perception, and we need to confront that and confront it boldly,” Pence said. “No one should be harassed or mistreated because of who they are, who they love or what they believe.”
Pence stoked outrage over the law when, during an interview Sunday on ABC’s “This Week,” he would not say whether a florist could refuse to work a wedding, for example, because the couple is gay.
On Tuesday, Pence conceded he “could’ve handled that better.” But Pence also said he did not expect the law would spark the level of controversy it has, particularly nationwide.
“Was I expecting this kind of backlash?” Pence said. “Heavens no.”
Indeed, the backlash has been swift and pronounced, with a range of companies and other states announcing they would not do business with Indiana for as long as the law in its current form is in place.
The law has also set off a conversation among likely candidates for the presidency on both sides of the aisle.
Among Democrats, Hillary Clinton tweeted she is “sad this new Indiana law can happen in America today.”
“We shouldn’t discriminate against ppl bc of who they love,” Clinton added in the tweet. Former Maryland Gov. Martin O’Malley, another likely Democratic candidate for president, called the law “shameful” during a swing through New Hampshire, USA Today reported.
Republicans, meanwhile, have overall voiced their support for Pence and the law, including Sens. Ted Cruz and Marco Rubio, and former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush.
“This is really an important value for our country…where you can respect and be tolerant of people’s lifestyles, but allow for people of faith to be able to exercise theirs,” Bush told radio host Hugh Hewitt.
