Indiana Republican Gov. Mike Pence is signaling he'll be taking the side of protecting religious rights over those for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender residents – a tactic that's drawing both praise and scorn.
"I will not support any bill that diminishes the religious freedom of Hoosiers or that interferes with the constitutional rights of our citizens to live out their beliefs in worship, service or work," Pence said in his Tuesday State of the State speech, IndyStar.com reports.
The governor, facing re-election, asserted Indiana is already "an open and welcoming state that respects everyone" and said he believes "that no one should be harassed or mistreated because of who they are, who they love, or what they believe."
"And no one should ever fear persecution because of their deeply held religious beliefs," he added later, the news site reported.
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Here's what US Senator Dan Coates said today:
ReplyDelete"Under the leadership of former Governor Mitch Daniels, current Governor Mike Pence and Republicans in the state legislature, Indiana has become a model for effective, efficient government. Unemployment is at its lowest level since August 2001, budgets are balanced, new businesses are choosing to come to Indiana and the state has a $2 billion budget surplus. Today more Hoosiers are working than ever before in our state's history."
He's absolutely right. Indiana is a great place to live, work and play.