Tuesday, April 21, 2015

Indiana: Would-be Shunners Are Instantly Shunned

Last month, Indiana passed a law allowing gays to be shunned by local businesses. Businesses didn't have to serve people they thought were gay. Before anyone could report actually having been shunned, Indiana found itself losing money, shunned by major corporations who didn't want their gay employees victimized.

Their shiny new 'shunning' law stood tall for a week. Then it was amended to indicate that it did not condone any type of discrimination. Since the law does still allow religious norms to trump minor laws in other areas, what remains of it would seem to empower the "First Church of Cannabis", which has applied for a state charter. The sacramental value of cannabis is not to be taken lightly. It has a history which must be honored.

The state is in damage control mode.

The governor, in dabbling with the dark side, has dashed his hopes for a run at the Presidency. 


There had been warnings:

 03/25 3:56 PM  Christian Group Is Ready To Boycott Indiana If Governor Signs ‘Religious Liberty’ Bill:
"Wednesday, the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) — or “DoC” denomination, which claims around 659,000 members in North America and has been headquartered in Indianapolis for almost 100 years — sent a letter to Pence asking him to reconsider. The group threatened to relocate its general conference, which is scheduled to bring around 6,000 people to Indianapolis in 2017, if the state-level RFRA is approved. "

3/26 3:30 PM  CNBC  The business case against Indiana's religious faith:
"The Indiana Chamber of Commerce was narrow in its opposition to the religious freedom law in a statement earlier this week..."
"...But other voices from the business community went further. Columbus, Indiana-based Cummins, the world's largest diesel engine maker—which has been among the nation's most outspoken business voices against LGBT discrimination statutes—publicly opposed the new law in strong terms, fearing a weakened hand for corporations based in Indiana when trying to lure top talent to the state."
 
Yet, the deed is done.

03/26/2015 2:28 PM  Indiana's Governor Signs 'Religious Freedom' Bill:
"Indiana business owners who object to same-sex couples will now have a legal right to deny them services after Republican Gov. Mike Pence signed a bill known as the Religious Freedom Restoration Act into law."
 03/26  06:57 PM  Gov. Mike Pence signs 'religious freedom' bill in private:
 "His action followed two days of intense pressure from opponents — including technology company executives and convention organizers — who fear the measure could allow discrimination, particularly against gays and lesbians." 
This didn't work out as well as expected...

The Midwest houses many sects who have a tradition of shunning. When my mother became a divorcee, she was shunned by our childhood church. Women in the church wouldn't talk to her any more. The tighter the sect, the heavier the shun. The notion is embedded in the culture.

It was a thoughtless law. Some fences work both ways. Some kids would grow up, move on and never come home again. The law was provincial, and provincially naive. 


  The shunning of the shunners immediately begins:

03/26  2:49 PM   Salesforce Cancels Programs in Indiana in Protest of Anti-Gay Bill
03/26  4:13 PM   Set phasers to shun: George Takei encourages boycotting Indiana over ‘religious freedom’ bill
03/26  4:30 PM   Keith Olbermann ESPN calls on sports leagues to abandon ‘medieval’ Indiana over anti-gay law

03/27  2:42 PM  Apple CEO Tim Cook Warns Arkansas Not To Pass Anti-Gay Bill Like Indiana
03/27  4:10 PM  Corporations And Celebrities Agree: Anti-Gay Indiana Can Get Bent
03/27  6:12 PM  Hackers have allegedly taken down Indiana's official website in response to Pence's Bigotry Law


  Indiana notices:

A day later...

03/27 11:36 PM  Indiana officials look to stem religious objections fallout
03/27      SAN FRANCISCO: Mayor Ed Lee Bans Work Travel To Indiana For City Staffers
03/27      Celebrities protest new Indiana law

03/28  10:12 AM EDT  Indiana Officials Scramble To Contain Fallout From New Anti-Gay Bill
03/28  12:09 PM  Charles Barkley Wants NCAA To Pull Final Four From Indiana Over Anti-Gay Bill
03/28    2:12 PM   Angie's List Cites Anti-Gay Law In Halting Indiana Expansion


  The governor attempts a half-way solution:

03/28       INDIANA: Gov. Mike Pence Promises New Bill To "Clarify Intent" Of Anti-LGBT License To Discriminate Law:
"He adamantly insisted that RFRA will not open the door to state-sanctioned discrimination against gays and lesbians. But he did acknowledge that Indiana’s image — and potentially its economic health — has been hurt badly by the controversy."
(03/30) 11:43 ET  Indiana GOP leader admits ‘No Gays Allowed’ sign would be legal in most of the state

03/29  8:57 AM  Angie's List Cancels $40 Million 1000 Jobs Indiana Expansion Over Anti-Gay 'Religious Freedom' Law
03/29 11:01 AM  Mike Pence Dodges Questions On Anti-Gay Discrimination In Indiana
03/29  3:56 PM   Indiana governor: New law 'not about discrimination'


  His solution doesn't solve much:

03/29  9:43 PM  Whoops: Indiana’s anti-gay ‘Religious Freedom’ act opens the door for the First Church of Cannabis
03/30 12:36 AM  Indiana University president: 'Reconsider this unnecessary legislation'

03/30 2:34 AM  When Mike Pence tells you SB101 isn't anti-gay, he's lying.  (See the names of the homophobic activists standing behind him at the signing ceremony.
03/30  7:03 AM  (watch) Ind. Guv Won't Say Whether New Law Allows LGBT Discrimination

03/30   9:19 AM As backlash against Indiana's license-to-discriminate law grows, damage control is failing
03/30 11:11 AM  Conn. Gov. Will Sign Executive Order On Travel In Protest Of Indiana Law


  Chicago's mayor invites businesses that are worried about discrimination to bring their jobs to open-hearted Chicago:

03/30 11:46 AM  Emanuel Trying To Raid Indiana Firms Over Religious Freedom Law:
(Chicago mayor) "Emanuel sent letters to a dozen Indiana based companies criticizing the law and urging them to move their headquarters to Illinois and Chicago in particular, according to Crain's Chicago Business."
03/30  1:47 PM  Here Are 17 Major Companies Protesting States' New Anti-Gay Laws
03/30  2:48 PM  NCAA: 'If we have to move events' from Indiana, 'we'll do it'

03/30  2:53 PM  Dems hammer Pence for posing with anti-LGBT activists while signing ‘religious freedom’ bill 
03/30  3:28 PM  Indianapolis mayor (R) wants legislation to prohibit discrimination based on sexual orientation:
 “Forty years of history as one of the most hospitable places in America should not be placed in jeopardy because of this act,” said Mayor Ballard. 

  More businesses scream and holler:

03/30  3:59 PM Indiana's Anti-Gay Law Prompts Thousands Of Businesses To Stand Up For Diversity
03/30  5:47 PM Breaking in Indy: Nine CEOs call on Pence, legislature to modify 'religious freedom' law
03/30  7:17 PM  Subaru announces disgust with Indiana law
03/30  7:42 PM  Boycott these 5 common products made in Indiana
03/30  7:59 PM  GOP Mayor Of Indianapolis Signs Executive Order Protecting LGBT Community
03/30  9:12 PM  Breaking in Indiana: Right Center (right) Indy Star Editorial: 'Fix this law Now'.


  The conservative Indianapolis Star says  "FIX // THIS // NOW":

03/31       Here’s the front page of today’s Indianapolis Star.  Also, here.

03/31  1:59 AM  Indiana GOP Leaders Shocked Their 'Religious Freedom' Law Is Seen As Anti-Gay

03/31  8:59 AM  Leaders Of Indiana Companies 'Deeply Concerned' Over LGBT Discrimination Law
03/31 10:08 AM   'Parks And Rec' Actor Nick Offerman Cancels Indiana Show Over Anti-Gay Law
03/31 10:27 AM   Gap, Levi's Join Other Big Companies Protesting Anti-Gay Laws


  GOP presidential hopefuls rise to the defense of homophobia:

03/31 10:59 AM   GOP Presidential Hopefuls Rise To Defend Indiana Law That Many See As Anti-Gay
03/31 12:11 PM  Everyone Is Laughing At That Poor Dumb Idiot, Indiana Gov. Mike Pence
03/31 12:57 PM  The True Intent Of Indiana’s ‘Religious Freedom’ Bill, According To The People Who Helped Write It (includes the signing picture)

03/31  1:34 PM  Indiana Gov. Mike Pence Either Confused Or Misleading Everyone About His Controversial Law

03/31  2:10 PM  Marriott CEO Calls Indiana’s RFRA “Madness” and “Idiocy”
03/31  2:37 PM  USC Athletic Director To Boycott NCAA Meeting: I Have A Gay Son
03/31  3:36 PM  NASCAR: Indiana law fosters intolerance, exclusion
03/31 4:14 PM  The 2015 Final Four Schools Respond To Indiana Anti-Gay Law


  The governor admits a fumble:

03/31  6:07 PM  Indiana Gov. Mike Pence Says He 'Could Have Handled' Religious Freedom Law Better
03/31       REVEALED: Indiana Gov. Mike Pence's Ugly History Of Anti-LGBT Advocacy
 
03/31  756 PM   Breaking: UConn Coaches Won't Travel to Indianapolis for Final 4 Due to Religious Freedom Bill


  Indiana pizzeria innocently assumes gays might possibly order a pizza for a wedding reception:

04/01       Indiana Pizzeria Vows To Never Deliver A Pizza To A Gay Wedding

04/01 10:36 AM  Yelp Users Troll Indiana Pizzeria That Refuses To Cater Gay Weddings


  The shunners are shunned more and more:

04/01  9:45 AM  Jeb Bush Seems to Shift Tone (into reverse) in His Praise of Indiana Law
04/01 10:23AM  David Letterman: 'This Is Not The Indiana I Remember As A Kid' (VIDEO)
04/01  2:00 PM  Mayors, coffee shop owners, and crackers speak out against Indiana hate law
04/01  2:45 PM  Indianapolis Bakery That Refused To Make Cake For Gay Couple Has Gone Out Of Business


  Arkansas governor sees it coming, deflects it:

04/01       In Reversal, Arkansas Governor Says He Won't Sign Pro-Discrimination Bill
04/01       LIVE VIDEO: Arkansas Governor Holds Press Conference On Anti-Gay RFRA Bill
04/01  3:59 PM  Walmart Praises Arkansas Governor For Refusing To Sign Anti-Gay Law
04/01  4:42 PM  Arkansas Governor's Son 'Proud' To Have Urged Dad To Veto Anti-Gay Bill


  An annual church convention cancelled:

04/01  4:55 PM  Disciples Of Christ Cancels 2017 Convention In Protest Of Religious Freedom Law

04/01  5:41 PM  (Illinois) Sen. Kirk Bashes Indiana Law As 'Bigotry' And 'Un-American'
04/01  5:43 PM  Indiana's website appears to not be functioning at this time.

04/01  9:37 PM  Former Indiana Governor (D) says 'enough' to RFRA
04/01        Tech Giants Denounce RFRA Bills


  Religion laws fall into retreat:

04/02  9:51 AM  Jeb Bush Flip Flops On Indiana Anti-Gay Law: 'We Shouldn’t Discriminate'
04/02        Climbdown on the ‘gay discrimination’ laws: Arkansas and Indiana both prepare new versions in bid to end furor over religious protection measures

04/02  6:42 PM   Indiana Law Went Too Far For Most Americans To Support


  The law is fixed:

From the signing on March 26 to the 'fixing' on April 2nd took seven days. The internet expedites justice.
04/02  7:32 PM  Arkansas, Indiana enact fixes to measures seen as targeting gays
04/02         INDIANA: GOP Lawmakers Add LGBT Non-Discrimination Language To RFRA


04/02          Indianapolis in crisis mode after tourism hit by religious bill
04/03          Bills enacting Indiana-style religious freedom law (in Nevada) dropped
04/04          Indiana Residents Rue Damage to State’s Welcoming Reputation


  The humor of the situation is not lost to everyone:

04/06 10:55 AM   Zach Braff And Donald Faison Will Make Pizzas For Your Gay Wedding In Indiana
04/06  1:48 PM  Why The Christian Right May Never Recover From Indiana

04/07         Indiana: Church of Marijuana founded to Exploit Religious Freedom Act
04/13         Indiana Hires PR Firm To Rebuild Image After 'Religious Freedom' Fiasco


Will Indiana now win contests for "Most Welcoming State" ?

There is potential:

01/15/2014   Indiana Minister Boots Gay; 80% of Congregation Also Goes Away 

Not every congregation shuns gays. Some congregations shun their minister.