NEW YORK DAILY NEWS
Thursday, April 2, 2015, 1:19 AM
Rick Callahan/APHundreds of people gathered outside the Indiana Statehouse last weekend to protest the state's Religious Freedom Restoration Act.
A change might come.
Indiana Republican leaders are expected to announce an alteration to the state’s wildly polarizing Religious Freedom Restoration Act Thursday morning that could curb the prolonged national scorn over the law.
The proposal, set for a 9 a.m. at the Statehouse, ensures that gays and lesbian customers can’t face discrimination at local businesses, the Indianapolis Star reported.
“We feel there is a strong consensus,” Senate President Pro Tem David Long told the Star after a Wednesday night meeting about the privately planned deal.
“We feel good about it. We did a lot of hard work to bring the groups together to find the comfort level everyone feels does the job of truly saying this does not discriminate against anyone."
Gov. Mike Pence has not said whether he’ll sign the compromise measure, and it’s not clear if the state’s Democrats are expected to support it.
A draft of the deal obtained by the Star on Wednesday specifically says the religious freedom law can’t be used by business owners to justify refusing service to anyone based on sexual orientation. If passed, this would be Indiana’s first law granting LGBT protection from discrimination.
Aaron P. Bernstein/Getty ImagesIt's not yet clear if Indiana Gov. Mike Pence will sign an expected compromise measure ensuring protection for LGBT citizens under the state's controversial law.
The original law, which Pence signed last week, prohibits any local government from passing laws that “substantially burden” a person’s ability to express religious beliefs — with businesses included in the definition of a “person.”
It inspired intense derision nationwide after many argued the act allows blatant discrimination against LGBT customers.
For the past week, Pence has been at the center of constant campaigning against the state, including a Twitter campaign to boycott Indiana services. Several notable names, including Wilco and Nick Offerman, acted literally on that call to action, publicly pulling out of planned appearances in the Hoosier State as protest.
Pence has steadfastly stood by the law, insisting that critics are misinterpreting it, but he eventually called for new draft language to ensure the bill does not allow discrimination.
Arkansas Gov. Asa Hutchinson announced Wednesday he refused to sign the state’s own “Religious Freedom Restoration Act” law until it was changed to include protections similar to those expected for Indiana’s law.
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