Indiana governor signs controversial religious freedom act

Mary Bruno

Mary Bruno Jul 5, 2025

Feb 6, 2018

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                <h1>Indiana governor signs controversial religious freedom act</h1>
                <h2><p>Indiana Gov. Mike Pence signed a controversial "religious freedom" bill into law on Thursday, despite strong opposition from a variety of industry leaders, who believe the measure invites discrimination, especially against the LGBT community. The Huffington Post reports that organizers of the massive gaming convention Gen Con have</p></h2>
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               <p>By <a href="/author/mary-bruno-crosscut-com/">Mary Bruno</a></p> 
              <p><time datetime="2025-02-04T05:00:00-08:00">Feb 6, 2018</time></p>
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            <p>Indiana Gov. Mike Pence signed a controversial "religious freedom" bill into law on Thursday, despite strong opposition from a variety of industry leaders, who believe the measure invites discrimination, especially against the LGBT community. <a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2015/03/26/indiana-governor-mike-pence-anti-gay-bill_n_6947472.html?ref=dev.cascadepbs.org">The Huffington Post</a> reports that organizers of the massive gaming convention Gen Con have threatened to stop holding the event in Indiana and Salesforce CEO Marc Benioff tweeted on Thursday that his company would now shun the state.</p><p>Hillary Clinton tweeted her dismay as well: "Sad this new Indiana law can happen in America today. We shouldn't discriminate against ppl bc of who they love <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/LGBT?src=hash&ref=dev.cascadepbs.org" rel="nofollow">#<b>LGBT</b></a>."</p><p>Pence, <a href="http://www.indystar.com/story/news/politics/2015/03/25/gov-mike-pence-sign-religious-freedom-bill-thursday/70448858/?wpisrc=%5B%27nl_wonk%27%5D&wpmm=%5B%271%27%5D&ref=dev.cascadepbs.org">the IndyStar reported</a>, signed the bill in a private ceremony in his office just before 10 a.m. Thursday, making "Indiana the 20th state in the nation to adopt such legislation. It is modeled on the federal Religious Freedom Restoration Act, which President Bill Clinton signed in 1993."</p>
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Indiana Gov. Mike Pence signed a controversial "religious freedom" bill into law on Thursday, despite strong opposition from a variety of industry leaders, who believe the measure invites discrimination, especially against the LGBT community. The Huffington Post reports that organizers of the massive gaming convention Gen Con have threatened to stop holding the event in Indiana and Salesforce CEO Marc Benioff tweeted on Thursday that his company would now shun the state.

Hillary Clinton tweeted her dismay as well: "Sad this new Indiana law can happen in America today. We shouldn't discriminate against ppl bc of who they love #LGBT."

Pence, the IndyStar reported, signed the bill in a private ceremony in his office just before 10 a.m. Thursday, making "Indiana the 20th state in the nation to adopt such legislation. It is modeled on the federal Religious Freedom Restoration Act, which President Bill Clinton signed in 1993."

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By Mary Bruno

Mary was Crosscut's Editor-in-Chief and Interim Publisher. In more than 25 years as a journalist, she has worked as a writer, editor and editorial director for a variety of print and web publications,