Gov. Bobby Jindal Writes Op-Ed Against Gay Marriage For ‘New York Times’
Governor Bobby Jindal has written a strongly worded opinion piece for the New York Times against gay marriage that insists that he won’t back down to pressure from businesses.
In the piece Jindal explains, “I hold the view that has been the consensus in our country for over two centuries: that marriage is between one man and one woman. Polls indicate that the American consensus is changing — but like many other believers, I will not change my faith-driven view on this matter, even if it becomes a minority opinion.”
Jindal is adamant that he will also continue to back Louisiana’s hugely controversial religious freedom bill, which has been labelled discriminatory by many.
Writing for the New York Times from Baton Rouge, Louisiana, Jindal also criticized Arkansas and Indiana’s conservative leaders for not backing the religious freedom bill because of the pressure from the business community’s “radical liberals.”
“That political leaders in both states quickly cowered amid the shrieks of big business and the radical left should alarm us all.”
Louisiana’s religious freedom bill was written and orchestrated to stop the government from pulling licenses and tax benefits due to a business owner’s view on marriage. However it has been roundly chastised and hugely criticized by the LGBTQ community for being discriminatory against individuals.
Jindal has called for corporate America to now back the bill, and to stop the liberals from blocking it.
“Liberals have decided that if they can’t win at the ballot box, they will win in the boardroom. It’s a deliberate strategy. And it’s time for corporate America to make a decision.”
During his article Jindal also revealed just how disappointed he was to see Indiana and Arkansas’ conservative leaders backtracking from their plans because of pressure.
“It was disappointing to see conservative leaders so hastily retreat on legislation that would simply allow for an individual or business to claim a right to free exercise of religion in a court of law.”
Jindal also tried to explain why he is supporting such a highly controversial law, even though it is opposed by so many.
“Our country was founded on the principle of religious liberty, enshrined in the Bill of Rights. Why shouldn’t an individual or business have the right to cite, in a court proceeding, religious liberty as a reason for not participating in a same-sex marriage ceremony that violates a sincerely held religious belief?”
Jindal insists that any corporation that tries to battle the bill in Louisiana, which the state adopted back in 2010, will be fought furiously.
[Photo by Win McNamee/Getty Images]
