The controversial Indiana law many have criticized as anti-gay has a local lawmaker calling on Gov. Larry Hogan to ban all state-funded travel to the Hoosier state.
District 18 State Sen. Rich Madaleno, the first openly gay person elected to the legislature, wrote a letter to Hogan on Tuesday calling for the ban. It would follow the lead of states like Connecticut and cities like San Francisco and Seattle, where political leaders have enacted similar bans on government-funded travel to the state as long as the law remains.
“I trust you share my deep concerns over the new, so-called religious freedom law in the state of Indiana, and its implications for many elected and appointed representatives of Maryland,” Madaleno wrote. “I fear it could lead to a public humiliation of many of us when visiting Indiana.”
Madaleno also said the bill could allow businesses to discriminate against Hogan’s wife, Yumi Hogan, because she divorced her first husband.
“Your family, an exemplary ambassador for the State of Maryland, could be denied service due to a random business person, waiter, or clerk’s objection to the First Lady’s previous divorce,” Madaleno wrote. “Many of our colleagues could also be denied service because of an Indiana business owner’s objection to a Marylander’s marital status, sexual orientation, gender identity, appearance, or a myriad of other excuses.”
Indiana Gov. Mike Pence on Tuesday said the Religious Freedom Restoration Act, which grants businesses legal grounds to defend themselves against discrimination claims, has been misunderstood and blown out of proportion by the media.
He said the law doesn’t give businesses the right to deny services to anyone. But Indiana political leaders are considering clarifications to the bill amid a firestorm of criticism.
“To protect Maryland officials from the potential public humiliation and embarrassment of denial of service, I call upon you to enact a ban on travel to Indiana with State resources until this discriminatory law is repealed,” said Madaleno, who helped lead the successful marriage equality effort in the state a few years ago.
“Maryland needs to stand up for our values,” Madaleno continiued. “Indiana may have taken our Colts; they cannot be allowed to trample our principles.”
