Do candidates support the federal Equality Act? Will Stutzman and Young cosponsor the bill?
WRTV: Pence believes LGBT rights and the state’s economy are “separate issues”
INDIANAPOLIS – As Hoosiers brace for RFRA 2.0 this week, do GOP Senate candidates Eric Holcomb, Marlin Stutzman, and Todd Young support Mike Pence’s continued discrimination against the LGBT community? Do these candidates believe it’s acceptable to discriminate against LGBT Hoosiers at the grocery store, gas stations, or other businesses across Indiana? Would they cosponsor the national Equality Act in Washington?
The Equality Act – a bill cosponsored by U.S. Reps. Pete Visclosky and Andre Carson – would add sexual orientation and gender identity as protected classes to the Civil Rights Act of 1964. With this addition, LGBT Americans – including many Hoosiers – would be protected from discrimination based on public accommodation. It’s a national version of the Indiana Senate Democrats’ Senate Bill 2, which would add “sexual orientation, gender identity” to Indiana’s nondiscrimination laws.
“While Mike Pence has made it clear he would continue his discrimination against LGBT Hoosiers, do Eric Holcomb, Marlin Stutzman and Todd Young agree with him? Would Stutzman and Young put ideology aside and cosponsor the federal Equality Act?” said Drew Anderson, communications director. “After Mike Pence signed RFRA and put Indiana’s ‘Hoosier Hospitality’ reputation in jeopardy, Hoosiers are looking for commonsense leaders who could restore our state’s reputation once and for all. Hoosiers have a right to know if these candidates would follow ‘The Golden Rule’ in Washington or buckle to the GOP’s out-of-touch ideology.”
Hoosiers know it’s time to do the right thing and make sure the LGBT community is welcomed to the state of Indiana. Hoosier Democrats, including John Gregg, adamantly support the “four words and a comma” approach for across the board protections for LGBT Hoosiers. Further, Democrats want to restore and protect Indiana’s “Hoosier Hospitality” image and also improve the overall economic well-being for the state.
###