NYTimes |
The state laws were not used to protect minorities, these critics say,
but to allow some religious groups to undermine the rights of women,
gays and lesbians or other groups.
“The coalition broke apart over the civil rights issues,” said Eunice Rho, a lawyer for the American Civil Liberties Union.
The organization, which initially supported the measures, now opposes
them unless they include language ensuring that they will not be used to
permit discrimination or harm.
In
the 1990s, for example, in the kind of case that raised red flags for
civil rights advocates, landlords cited religious beliefs, sometimes
with success in court, after refusing to rent to unmarried heterosexual
couples.
The
clash of values erupted again after Indiana adopted its own version of a
“religious freedom” act last week. Arkansas is expected to approve a
similar law this week.
The
furor has put Gov. Mike Pence of Indiana, who is considered a possible
Republican presidential candidate, under national scrutiny. On Monday,
Republican legislators in Indiana said they were searching with the
governor for a possible amendment to the law to “clarify” that it does
not permit discrimination against gays and lesbians.
“It
is not the intent of the law to discriminate against anyone, and it
will not be allowed to discriminate against anyone,” David. C. Long,
president pro tem of the State Senate, said on Monday at a news
conference with Brian C. Bosma, speaker of the State House of
Representatives.
