An Indiana Senate committee on Wednesday shut down SB 66, a proposed bill that would have repealed last year's Religious Freedom Restoration Act and permitted greater allowances for anti-LGBT discrimination all in the name of so-called “religious freedom.”
Scores of opponents and supporters had shown up at the 9 a.m. hearing to testify on Senate Bill 66, which would have increased protections for religious freedom, freedom of speech, freedom to assemble and the right to bear arms.
“These rights belong to each and every one of us,” the proposal's author, Sen. Mike Young, R-Indianapolis, said, “and I'm trying to protect every one of those rights for everyone in this room.”
But after allowing Young to explain the bill, Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Brent Steele, R-Bedford, declined to hear testimony, discuss or vote on the bill because he said it had been “mischaracterized.”
“Sen. Young's logic is correct, and his legal analysis is correct, and I believe his motive is laudable,” Steele said. “The timing is incorrect. Probably next year would be a chance to have a legal discussion on this, on protecting our constitutional rights.”
Freedom Indiana welcomed the news:
Senate Bill 66 would have dealt a devastating blow to Indiana's already damaged reputation. While we are pleased to see this discriminatory bill died a well deserved death, it's important to remember that LGBT Hoosiers and visitors are still not protected from discrimination throughout most of the state. In fact, with the passage of last year's religious exemption bill, it is still legal to fire someone, kick them out of their homes or deny them public services based solely on their sexual orientation or gender identity. This is wrong.
“Later this evening, the Senate Rules Committee will hear SB 100 and SB 344. While neither of these bills are where they need to be at this time, we hope the legislature will work with the business community and the vast majority of Hoosiers to advance equal protections for LGBT individuals.”
The group also celebrated the bill's defeat on Twitter.
Thank you to the thousands of Hoosiers who spoke out against #SB66. We stopped Super #RFRA—now we keep pushing for full #LGBT protections!
— Freedom Indiana (@freedom_indiana) January 27, 2016
We did it: #SB66 will NOT advance today—and is almost certainly dead for this legislative session! #INLegis #lgbt pic.twitter.com/fHuGNWGznz
— Freedom Indiana (@freedom_indiana) January 27, 2016
Matt McTighe, executive director of Freedom for All Americans, added,
“Senate Bill 66 would have dealt a devastating blow to Indiana's already damaged reputation. While we are pleased to see this discriminatory bill died a well deserved death, it's important to remember that LGBT Hoosiers and visitors are still not protected from discrimination throughout most of the state. In fact, with the passage of last year's religious exemption bill, it is still legal to fire someone, kick them out of their homes or deny them public services based solely on their sexual orientation or gender identity. This is wrong.
“Later this evening, the Senate Rules Committee will hear SB 100 and SB 344. While neither of these bills are where they need to be at this time, we hope the legislature will work with the business community and the vast majority of Hoosiers to advance equal protections for LGBT individuals.”
As noted by McTighe, two other bills addressing LGBT rights are still up for consideration by the Indiana senate. Via WTHITV 10:
One bill would create LGBT protections state wide, similar to anti-discrimination protections already in place based on race, disability and age, but this bill would offer exemptions to small businesses and religious organizations. It would also trump city ordinances that may have stronger protections. Many cities passed ordinances last year following RFRA.
The second bill up for debate would allow cities to keep their ordinances, but the statewide protections would not include protections for transgender people.
[Top photo via Twitter]
