03-31-2015, 04:59 PM
(03-31-2015, 04:38 PM)Duchess Wrote: You didn't add to the confusion.
I never really understood why it was signed in the first place given I have always thought the anti-discrimination law already on the books had the power to override anything that may come out, including this. Have I misunderstood that?
Kinda.
Federal law covers individuals' rights to religious expression. Most state RFRAs are similar.
The wording of Indiana's RFRA (and Arkansas') is such that individual rights of religious freedoms are also potentially afforded to business entities.
So, the state law would go where the federal laws and regulations don't -- potentially allowing for employment and service discrimination against gays to be shielded in state court by businesses using a "religious freedom" defense.
It's is sorta confusing. I found this article that sums it up better than I can.
http://www.indystar.com/story/news/polit.../70729888/