Bill Maher: Conservatives have lost the Cultural Wars

Majority of Americans are not a fan RFRA

Well, the latest Reuters/Ipsos poll reveals that many Americans are not fans of RFRA.

Get into these results

The poll found solid opposition to allowing businesses to refuse services or refuse to hire people or groups based on religious beliefs.

Fifty-four percent said it was wrong for businesses to refuse services, while 28 percent said they should have that right. And 55 percent said businesses should not have the right to refuse to hire certain people or groups based on the employer’s religious beliefs, while 27 percent said businesses should have the right.

The Reuters-Ipsos poll found divisions among Americans on where same-sex marriage laws should be made.

The largest grouping, 34 percent, believes same-sex marriage laws should be made by the U.S. Supreme Court declaring a nationwide constitutional right.

Another 22 percent said same-sex marriage laws should be made at the state level by voter referendum. Eleven percent said laws should be made by state legislators and 8 percent would leave it up to Congress. The poll found 24 percent did not know how best to handle it.

The poll said 55 percent want to see all states – even those that do not permit same-sex marriages – recognize such unions from states where same-sex marriage is legal.

The nation is changing.

President Obama threw some serious Shade at the 'less-than-loving Christians' in Easter Prayer Breakfast

You couldn't hear him, he said:

“On Easter, I do reflect on the fact that as a Christian, I am supposed to love. And I have to say that sometimes when I listen to less-than-loving expressions by Christians, I get concerned. But that’s a topic for another day. I was about to veer off. I’m pulling it back. Where there is injustice we defend the oppressed. Where there is disagreement, we treat each other with compassion and respect. Where there are differences, we find strength in our common humanity, knowing that we are all children of God."

He was alluring to the RFRAs that are popping up lately.

Bobby Jindal: Be Careful About Creating ‘Special Rights’ for Gays and Lesbians

So, Louisiana Governor Bobby Jindal told Meet the Press that his state was considering a RFRA. However, he was hesitant about making the LGBT community  a protected class.

WATCH the interview

WATCH Rihanna Slams RFRA at March Madness Fest

This past Saturday at the March Madness Fest in Indianapolis, Rihanna had some words about Indiana's RFRA. In middle of performing her new song,'American Oxygen,’ she slammed the divisive law.

Watch

rih on the religious freedom bill pic.twitter.com/cOhGZ9TMKq
— Mikela (@innerwildflower) April 5, 2015

Interesting Quote: John Mellencamp

From John's website

In recent days I’ve been asked to give my opinion about what’s been going on in our state. Do I agree or disagree with the Indiana Religious Freedom Restoration Act? What am I going to say, or do, about it? Am I going to cancel any of my upcoming Indiana shows? As many of the Star’s readers know, I have lived in Indiana since the day I was born, and I know firsthand that our state is populated with a great diversity of people who hold varying religious and political beliefs. The people in our neighborhoods are also racially diverse, live in different types of family units and also span a broad spectrum of sexual and gender identities. Indiana is now, in many ways, the American Melting Pot we all learned about in school. We are more than just tolerant, most of the time. We are welcoming.

So it is with a very heavy heart that I’ve watched the divisiveness that has occurred over our state government's actions. I am not questioning the sincerity of those who believe they have acted in the interests of religious freedom, but I am resolutely stating my opposition to this misnamed and ill-conceived law. It is discriminatory, hurtful, and a stain on Indiana’s national reputation. I understand Governor Pence and the state legislature are working on some changes to the law’s language, and I can only hope that they will do the right thing for the people of our state.

I have thought seriously about canceling my upcoming shows, not wanting the resulting tax revenues from ticket sales, concessions and the like to help fill the same government coffers that would enforce this terrible law. But then I realized that I would be letting our government divide us again, keeping me apart from my most important audience: My Indiana fans who have been there for me from the very beginning. Our evenings together will be about music, and hopefully this situation will be made right by the time I see you in May.

Sen. Tom Cotton believes we're lucky because ‘ In Iran They Hang You for Being Gay ’

Indiana GOP Lawmakers release their 'Fixed' version of RFRA

These Repubs think they're slick.

After the huge backlash over the Indiana RFRA foolishness, Republicans vow to fix the law, by adding language that supposed to mirror the federal RFRA.

But this newer version does not add LGBT protections to the law, nor includes religious groups. This version is still weak and problematic.

Think Progress breaks it down:

Indiana’s RFRA will no longer trump state or local laws banning anti-gay discrimination: The fix provides that Indiana’s RFRA does not authorize businesses “to refuse to offer or provide services, facilities, use of public accommodation, goods, employment, or housing to any member or members of the general public” on the basis of a list of protected traits that includes “sexual orientation” and “gender identity.” Another provision provides that the state’s RFRA law does not “establish a defense to a civil action or criminal prosecution” brought against someone who engages in such discrimination. This language appears broad enough to permit local ordinances protecting gay and trans rights to function against business owners with religious objections to LGBT people. It also would enable a similar state law to function, were the Indiana legislature to pass such a law in the future.

The fix does nothing about Hobby Lobby: At the same press conference where Pence announced that he was open to language protecting against anti-LGBT discrimination, he also cited the Supreme Court’s Hobby Lobby decision as an example of what he hoped the fixed RFRA bill would still accomplish. It remains to be seen whether the Indiana courts will interpret the state’s RFRA bill the way that the Supreme Court read federal RFRA in Hobby Lobby — that is, whether they will allow religious objections to be used to diminish the rights of others. It is likely, however, that state courts will follow the Supreme Court’s lead, as they often do when tasked with interpreting similar laws.

The fix does not apply to religious groups: Though the fix protects against discrimination by most individuals and businesses, it does still permit RFRA to be invoked by churches, nonprofit religious organizations or clergy who engage in discrimination.

LGBT people in Indiana gain no new rights from the fix: In the wake of the backlash against the original Indiana RFRA law, many LGBT rights groups hope that the state would enact anti-discrimination provisions protecting gay and trans people in Indiana at the state level. The fix includes none of these protections. What that means is that LGBT people who live in cities like Indianapolis will regain the rights they already enjoyed before the state RFRA law took effect, but LGBT people who were unprotected before this law will remain unprotected.

So, in other words, it's really not a 'fix'.

You can read it for yourself, here

Bryan Fischer Says Clarifying Indiana's 'Religious Freedom' Law Will Lead To Slavery

New Poll: African-Americans are Not Fans of RFRA

When it comes to the Indiana RFRA, the younger crowd are not trying to hear that noise. But another group is also causing a stir.

Apparently, African-Americans are the outliers when it comes to LGBT rights being taken away. Why are they/we an outlier? Well, it's assumed that the support for gay marriage and LGBT rights go hand in hand. However, in a new study, that belief has been changed. While the support on gay marriage is slowly growing, my community overwhelmingly believes that no bill should limit the rights for the LGBT community.

Here's more:

African-Americans are by far the largest outlier of any of the 15 demographic groups (people were sorted according to age, race, religion and party affiliation) studied, according to Pew Research. Overall, African-Americans’ views resemble those of young adults and nonreligious Americans: 61 percent of black respondents favored laws requiring businesses to serve same-sex couples.

If you set aside responses from African-Americans, 83 percent of the variation in support for laws requiring businesses to serve same-sex couples just like straight couples is explained by support for same-sex marriage. Including African-Americans drops the variation explained to just 52 percent.

Why are African-Americans so much more in favor of anti-discrimination laws than same-sex marriage? That’s hard to say, but there are at least two opposing demographic forces at work.

On the one hand, the fact that African-Americans are more likely to be religious also makes them more likely to oppose same-sex marriage. On the other — as Claire Gecewicz and Michael Lipka of Pew Research point out — African-Americans (perhaps based on their own history of being discriminated against) are more likely than white people to say that gay Americans face discrimination.

In the case of businesses serving gay customers, opposition to discrimination was stronger than the pull of religion.

source 

In Indiana: Memories Pizza says they will Refuse Service to Gays, Now Shut Down!

Get ready to be trolled on Yelp


Ha! And what do you know, the pizza place shut down! TMZ reports:

Kevin O’Connor tells TMZ he's had to temporarily close his business after he told a reporter he would refuse to cater a gay wedding under Indiana's new Religious Freedom Restoration Act. O'Connor says he was immediately flooded by threatening phone calls, and social media postings.

O'Connor wants to clear up one thing: He says he would never deny service to gay people in his restaurant. However, due to his religious beliefs, he does not believe in gay marriage ... and that's why he wouldn't service one.
Meanwhile, he says the threats have been serious enough that he's closing his pizza joint ... at least until the dust settles.

This is golden.

Arkansas Gov. Asa Hutchinson Won't sign the Religious Freedom Bill in its Current Form

Arkansas Gov. Asa Hutchinson said that he will not sign this version of the religious freedom bill, HB 1228. This version doesn't mirror the federal version and tells state legislature to make changes to it.

Gov. Hutchinson also mentioned how this bill/issue is divisive. He talked about his own son isn't supporting him or this bill. Plus, Walmart came down on the governor to rethink his views. I'm sure the haters are going to love this. They are already hating on Gov. Pence, calling a coward and other things. I have to say this is so fun to watch. Seeing the conservatives meltdown on social media really makes my day.

Arkansas Legislative Black Caucus to Gov. Hutchinson: Don't Sign the Bill

Arkansas Legislative Black Caucus released a statement over the state's Religious Freedom Bill, they wrote:

“As proud Arkansans, we stand united behind laws that are fair and just for everyone. We are mindful that not too long ago, laws of our state stood in blatant opposition to the value of inclusivity when lunch counters and universities rejected good and decent Arkansans because of their race, when we were told that some of us were unequal because of the color of our skin. HB1228 is reminiscent of those days. In words of long-time civil rights icon Julian Bond, “HB1228 in Arkansas opens the door to a hateful past that some had thought this country had left behind. This legislation cloaks discrimination in the guise of religion…”

For the members of the Arkansas Legislative Black Caucus, the value of religious freedom is immeasurable. For most Arkansans, it is the binding thread that brings together friends, family and strangers in fellowship. That is why the freedom of religion is cemented into our Constitution and into state and federal law. HB1228 would not protect religious belief. Rather, it would permit individuals and businesses to discriminate with impunity in the name of religion.

Hundreds of community leaders and thousands of everyday Arkansans have spoken out against the legislation, not because of any objection to freedom of religious belief but because legislation such as SB1228 can be used to discriminate on the basis of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender status; and religion, gender, age or other status. Therefore, in the name of fairness and equality, especially in the shadow of our state's history, we ask that HB1228 be amended or abandoned entirely to protect the civil rights of all Arkansans.

source 

Arkansas Legislature Passes Bill on Religious Freedom

I guess some people never learn...

Arkansas state legislature passed their version of Indiana's RFRA. In fact, it's worst than Indiana's version, because it would be illegal to pass anti-discrimination laws at the local or county levels, and it would strike down any existing laws. The bill goes to Governor Asa Hutchinson, who said he would sign it as soon as it hits his desk. Asa has been warned by companies and equality groups to veto the bill, but for some reason, he thinks it's great idea.

But, I hope he's been watching the drama Gov. Mike Pence has been going through, because that's a serious warning to what's to come. I'm not sure Arkansas can handle that type of pressure. So, Gov Hutchinson needs to veto this bill, because if he doesn't, we will drag him out just the same.

USC Athletic Director Pat Haden tweets his support for his Gay Son, and disapproval of Indiana

This is cool!

USC Athletic Director Pat Haden is a legend at USC. And when he speaks, everyone listens.

This tweet today, spoke in volumes

I am the proud father of a gay son. In his honor, I will not be attending the CFP committee meeting in Indy this week. #EmbraceDiversity

— Pat Haden (@ADHadenUSC) March 31, 2015

Go Pat!

WATCH Indiana Gov. Mike Pence Press Conference on RFRA

Tea Cruz: "I’m proud to stand with Gov. Mike Pence"

From his website

“I want to commend Governor Mike Pence for his support of religious freedom, especially in the face of fierce opposition. There was a time, not too long ago, when defending religious liberty enjoyed strong bipartisan support. Alas, today we are facing a concerted assault on the First Amendment, on the right of every American to seek out and worship God according to the dictates of his or her conscience. Governor Pence is holding the line to protect religious liberty in the Hoosier State. Indiana is giving voice to millions of courageous conservatives across this country who are deeply concerned about the ongoing attacks upon our personal liberties. I’m proud to stand with Mike, and I urge Americans to do the same.”

Whatever

Jeb Bush supports Indiana's RFRA - AUDIO

Interesting Quote: Gov. Mike Pence

I abhor discrimination. I believe in the Golden Rule that you should “do unto others as you would have them do unto you.” If I saw a restaurant owner refuse to serve a gay couple, I wouldn’t eat there anymore. As governor of Indiana, if I were presented a bill that legalized discrimination against any person or group, I would veto it. Indiana’s new law contains no reference to sexual orientation.

This is from his op-ed in WSJ. Read it here

READ The Indy Star's Editorial on Gov. Pence and RFRA

It's good folks!

Go here