Gov. Mike Pence declared repeatedly Sunday he stands behind Indiana's new religious freedom legislation, blaming "an avalanche" of negative media reports for misconstruing the bill.
Pence appeared on ABC's "This Week with George Stephanopoulos" to talk about the legislation state Republicans say protects the rights of businesses to shun customers on religious grounds.
Opponents say it legalizes discrimination against gays.
Pence seemed amazed at the tsunami of ill will heaped on Indiana since he signed Senate Bill 101 on Thursday, March 26. Major businesses, organizations and celebrities criticized the legislation and are threatening to boycott Indiana just as the national sports media spotlight shifts to Indianapolis as it prepares to host the NCAA Final Four basketball tournament.
NCAA President Mark Emmert said it supports an inclusive environment for all its events and is examining the bill and how it might affect future events, as well as its workforce, which is headquartered in Indianapolis.
Pence called the widespread reaction "breathtaking" and said tolerance is a two-way street.
"Now this avalanche of intolerance has been poured on our state, it's just outrageous," he said.
Stephanopoulos asked Pence six times if it would soon be legal for a business owner to refuse to serve gay customers, as an Indiana right-wing activitist trumpeted on his Advance America website.
"Yes or no, if a florist in Indiana refuses to serve a gay customer, is that legal?"
Pence deflected each query without a direct response. "This is not about discrimination, this is about empowering people to confront government overreach," he said.
However, Pence told the Indianapolis Star Saturday he plans to work with lawmakers to "clarify" that it does not support discrimination.
"We're not going to change the law, but if the General Assembly sends me a bill that has a section that reiterates and amplifies what the law really is, I'm open to that," Pence said.
Asked by Stephanopoulos if Indiana would add a section to the bill that bans discrimination based on sexual orientation, Pence rejected the idea.
"I will not push for that, it's not on my agenda," said Pence, a possible 2016 presidential contender.
Meanwhile, State Sen. Karen Tallian, D-Portage, said Sunday that Democrats will offer an amendment to the state's civil rights law, banning discrimination based on sexual orientation.
"If the authors of the bill truly believe that this isn't about discrimination, then they should be willing to say yes to that. As long as they're not willing to say yes, then their motives are suspect," she said.
While Pence pointed to 20 other states that have similar religious freedom laws, Tallian said many, like Illinois, have sections banning discrimination of gay people.
Rep. Hal Slager, R-Schererville, who voted for the bill along with the entire Northwest Indiana GOP delegation, said the measure doesn't discriminate. "I don't know of anybody who intended to discriminate in any way, shape or form," he said. "I think a lot of people are trying to make this into something that it's not."
Slager called the suggestion that gay people could not be served in a restaurant as "absurd."
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