Post by Logan on Feb 3, 2016 4:47:54 GMT -6
Indiana gay rights bill is dead: 'We took a beating from all sides'
Indiana Republican lawmakers abandoned efforts to strengthen protections for lesbian, gay and bi-sexual people on Tuesday, opting not to vote on a measure designed to restore the state's reputation following a national boycott over a religious objections law last year.
Republican Sen. Travis Holdman, who had sponsored the gay rights bill, said on Tuesday that he was "greatly disappointed" but realized there wasn't enough support for it to pass.
Efforts to find a balance between the civil rights of the LGBT community and religious liberty had satisfied no one, said Sen. David Long, leader of majority Republicans. He said efforts to pass a gay rights bill were dead for this legislative year.
"We took a beating from all sides in trying to do this," Long said. "This effort was unfortunately hampered by well-organized extreme messaging from groups representing both sides of this discussion — many of them from out of state. Neither of those sides were truly seeking a solution."
Read more: www.chicagotribune.com/suburbs/post-tribune/news/ct-indiana-lgbt-rights-bill-20160202-story.html
Indiana Republican lawmakers abandoned efforts to strengthen protections for lesbian, gay and bi-sexual people on Tuesday, opting not to vote on a measure designed to restore the state's reputation following a national boycott over a religious objections law last year.
Republican Sen. Travis Holdman, who had sponsored the gay rights bill, said on Tuesday that he was "greatly disappointed" but realized there wasn't enough support for it to pass.
Efforts to find a balance between the civil rights of the LGBT community and religious liberty had satisfied no one, said Sen. David Long, leader of majority Republicans. He said efforts to pass a gay rights bill were dead for this legislative year.
"We took a beating from all sides in trying to do this," Long said. "This effort was unfortunately hampered by well-organized extreme messaging from groups representing both sides of this discussion — many of them from out of state. Neither of those sides were truly seeking a solution."
Read more: www.chicagotribune.com/suburbs/post-tribune/news/ct-indiana-lgbt-rights-bill-20160202-story.html