Connecticut Becomes First State To Boycott Indiana Over LGBT Discrimination Law (9)

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2015/03/30/connecticut-indiana-boycott-lgbt_n_6969684.html Connecticut Governor Dan Malloy (D) has signed an executive order outlawing Connecticut state funded travel to the state of Indiana as a result of the religious freedom bill recently signed into law by Indiana governor Mike Pence (R). Connecticut is the first state to boycott Indiana, although the cities of San Francisco and Seattle have both instated a ban. The reason for the boycott is because this recent religious freedom bill gives all people to turn away anyone from their establishment, essentially do anything they see fit as long as they are capable of citing “religious liberty.” Indiana has received a huge backlash from the passing of this bill. Angie’s List, an Indianapolis based organization, has declined to execute a $40 million campus expansion project, and the CEO of Salesforce, a $4 billion software corporation, announced plans to "dramatically reduce our investment" in the state because of the law. This relates to our class because of our recent study of civil rights and civil liberties. This bill has the potential to produce extreme inequality. The most likely people to be turned away from businesses are LGBTQA and Muslim Americans. It is likely that this law will be declared unconstitutional. I completely agree with Connecticut’s actions. Religious institutions already receive enough exemptions and residents of Indiana should be ashamed of themselves if they feel the need to turn anyone away from their business. This is the United States, and discrimination should not be available or excusable, regardless of the form it takes.