Seattle Mayor Bans City Employees From Visiting Indiana
Ed Murray, the mayor of Seattle, has banned employees in the city from traveling to Indiana on city funds.
Murray made this decision in response to the state’s Religious Freedom Restoration Act, which was signed by Indiana Gov. Mike Pence on Thursday, allowing businesses not to serve lesbians and gays for religious reasons.
Many have criticized Indiana’s new law, and Murray has now declared that it “doesn’t reflect the values” of Seattle.
Murray further admonished the Religious Freedom Restoration Act in his statement.
“Seattle has been a leader in the fight to protect civil rights and ensure equality for all people — not matter who you are, or who you love. This is why I am ordering that none of our taxpayer dollars should go toward supporting this discriminatory law,” Murray added.
The order will be signed at some point next week, and Murray admitted that he will also look at the city’s department contracts and review the ones that are with businesses based in Indiana.
Indiana Governor Mike Pence has defended the law, insisting that it’s not about “discrimination,” but he added that he will clarify the law in the future.
“The bill is not about discrimination,” Pence added, “and if I thought it legalized discrimination I would have vetoed it.”
During a discussion with the Indianapolis Star, Pence once again backed the law, saying, “I support religious liberty, and I support this law. But we are in discussions with legislative leaders this weekend to see if there’s a way to clarify the intent of the law.”
Celebrities were quick to criticize Indiana’s law, taking to Twitter to register their opposition.
Indiana are you also going to allow Christian establishments to ban Jews from coming in? Or Vice Versa? Religious freedom??? #OUTRAGE
— ashton kutcher (@aplusk) March 27, 2015
I can now legally be denied service in Indiana because I am gay, or Jewish? Am I right, @GovPenceIN? Sounds like a fun place to visit!
— Andy Cohen (@Andy) March 27, 2015
Apple is open for everyone. We are deeply disappointed in Indiana’s new law and calling on Arkansas Gov. to veto the similar #HB1228.
— Tim Cook (@tim_cook) March 27, 2015
.@GovPenceIN Some in my band are gay & we have 2 gigs in your state next month. Should we call ahead to make sure the hotel accepts us all?
— Audra McDonald (@AudraEqualityMc) March 26, 2015
.@GovPenceIN or could you maybe send us a list of where its okay for us to go? Might the law apply to me?(I’m black).
— Audra McDonald (@AudraEqualityMc) March 26, 2015
[Image via Gov Exec]
