Maggie Goes Gaga For Bobby Jindal

"Kudos, kudos, kudos to Jindal. Who else will step up to the plate? It is only the question of whether the Judeo-Christian ethic in America will be tolerated or whether government will be used to punish and strip the livelihoods of people who cannot in conscience serve a particular marriage. Nationally, the pledge would be to fight for the Marriage and Religious Freedom Act. Who, besides me, will follow where Jindal leads? Please share this post with as many people as you can." Former NOM chairbigot Maggie Gallagher, praising today's NYT op-ed by Bobby Jindal.

Bobby Jindal: Save Your Breath, I'll Always Oppose Civil Rights For LGBT Americans

Louisiana Gov. Bobby Jindal today published an op-ed for the New York Times in which he vows to continue his battle against same-sex marriage and for discriminatory anti-LGBT legislation. An excerpt:

As the fight for religious liberty moves to Louisiana, I have a clear message for any corporation that contemplates bullying our state: Save your breath. In 2010, Louisiana adopted a Religious Freedom Restoration Act, which prohibits government from unduly burdening a person’s exercise of religion. However, given the changing positions of politicians, judges and the public in favor of same-sex marriage, along with the potential for discrimination against Christian individuals and businesses that comes with these shifts, I plan in this legislative session to fight for passage of the Marriage and Conscience Act.

The legislation would prohibit the state from denying a person, company or nonprofit group a license, accreditation, employment or contract — or taking other “adverse action” — based on the person or entity’s religious views on the institution of marriage. Some corporations have already contacted me and asked me to oppose this law. I am certain that other companies, under pressure from radical liberals, will do the same. They are free to voice their opinions, but they will not deter me.

I hold the view that has been the consensus in our country for over two centuries: that marriage is between one man and one woman. Polls indicate that the American consensus is changing — but like many other believers, I will not change my faith-driven view on this matter, even if it becomes a minority opinion. A pluralistic and diverse society like ours can exist only if we all tolerate people who disagree with us. That’s why religious freedom laws matter — and why it is critical for conservatives and business leaders to unite in this debate.

If we, as conservatives, are to succeed in advancing the cause of freedom and free enterprise, the business community must stand shoulder to shoulder with those fighting for religious liberty. The left-wing ideologues who oppose religious freedom are the same ones who seek to tax and regulate businesses out of existence.

Hit the link for the full drivel.

IBM To Gov. Bobby Jindal: Stop RFRA

Big Blue has again waded into the RFRA battle, this time with a letter to Louisiana Gov. Bobby Jindal:

IBM has made significant investments in Louisiana including most recently a technology services delivery center in Baton Rouge, creating new jobs for Louisiana workers. We located the center in Baton Rouge because we believe Louisiana has great talent and would continue to be a rich source of such talent. However a bill that legally protects discrimination based on same-sex marriage status will create a hostile environment for our current and prospective employees, and is antithetical to our company’s values. IBM will find it much harder to attract talent to Louisiana if this bill is passed and enacted into law. Our perspective is grounded in IBM's 104-year history and our deep legacy of diversity and inclusion - a legacy to which we remain strongly committed today. IBM is opposed to discrimination against anyone on the grounds of race, religion, gender, sexual orientation, or other protected categories. We urge you to work with the Legislature to ensure this legislation is not discriminatory.

Early this month IBM denounced the RFRA bills in Arkansas and Indiana. (Tipped by JMG reader Str8Grandmother)

Sen. Ted Cruz: Liberals Are "Waging Jihad" Against Christians In Indiana & Arkansas

"Look at the jihad that is being waged right now in Indiana and Arkansas, going after people of faith who respect the Biblical teaching that marriage is the union of one man and one woman. We need to bring people together to the religious liberty values that built this country. It wasn't long ago when this was an area of bipartisan agreement. When it came to the First Amendment we all stood together and said, 'Of course! Every one of us has God-given right to seek out and worship God.' This election needs to be about bringing together that consensus again, and that’s got to come from the people." - Ted Cruz, speaking yesterday at a presidential candidate forum in Iowa.

LOUISIANA: New Orleans Tourism Bureau Comes Out Against RFRA Bill

The New Orleans Convention and Visitors Bureau has issued a statement denouncing the pending RFRA bill in Louisiana. Via the Times-Picayune:

"The adoption of certain types of overreaching, problematic and divisive legislation in Louisiana has the possibility of threatening our state's third largest industry and creating economic losses pushing past a billion dollars a year and costing us tens of thousands of jobs," said Stephen Perry, president of the organization in a written statement. The bill's author, state Rep. Mike Johnson, has already made some adjustments to his legislation, but Perry is asking that Johnson scrap the bill entirely -- or risk doing damage to New Orleans's reputation as a friendly travel destination. "We urge that further debate and new legislation be tabled for now because of the huge and needless damage this could inflict on our brand and to an industry and destination city that each have a world-wide reputation as being welcoming, diverse, inclusive and exceptionally tolerant," wrote Perry in a statement.

Rep. Johnson appeared on the radio show of Tony Perkins earlier this week to promote the bill. (Tipped by JMG reader Michael)

UPDATE: Also "on edge" is the state's film industry.

To the state’s nascent motion picture industry, an enterprise that emerged in the early 2000s and has put Louisiana on the map as one of the country’s premier filming destinations, there’s no silver lining to the bill that could alienate out-of-staters in the same way a controversial religious freedom law recently led to a national boycott against Indiana. “For those of us in the creative industries … this bill creates a significant challenge,” said Lampton Enochs, CEO of Moonbot Studios, a film animation company in the northern city of Shreveport, one of Louisiana’s three main movie industry hubs. “We’re competing with companies in L.A., San Francisco and New York. I think a bill like this would make it difficult to recruit out-of-state talent.”

Bobby Jindal: Be Careful About Creating "Special Rights" For LGBT Americans

Via Mediaite:

Louisiana is considering a so-called “religious freedom” act similar to Indiana’s. Critics allege the bills are Trojan Horses that allow for discrimination against gays and lesbians. Jindal would not comment on his state’s legislation specifically, but said that people too easily defaulted to government, especially in the case of protected statuses against discrimination. “I have faith and confidence in the people in America and the people of New Orleans and the people of Louisiana to not tolerate discrimination, to not support businesses that want to support discrimination,” he continued. “So absolutely we need to have a society where we’re not discriminating against people. I do think we need to be very careful about creating special rights.”

Perkins: Christians In Foreign Nations "Will Suffer" Over America's RFRA Battles

"As we allow this religious intolerance to spread here at home, persecution will spread abroad. We have to stand and defend this faith because Christians abroad will suffer if we don't."

Homocon Tammy Bruce On RFRA: LGBT Activists Have Become Fascist Bullies

Tammy Bruce is super-concerned about a pizza joint, but she regularly appears at CPAC alongside the advocates of the criminalization of homosexuality and the gay death penalty.

Brian Brown: Veto The Indiana RFRA Fix

Via email from Brian Brown:

Stung by a furor of false accusations against the Indiana Religious Liberty Restoration Act, some Republican legislators are proposing to "fix" the law by stripping it of any chance to protect people of faith against being forced by law to participate in same-sex 'marriage' ceremonies that violate their deeply held religious beliefs. Worse, they are rewarding gay activists and celebrities like Miley Cyrus who intentionally and massively mischaracterized the legislation passed last week with expanded "anti-discrimination" provisions that will be used as a club by these same activists to punish people of faith for supporting biblical principles in the way they live their lives.

Russell Moore, the president of the Southern Baptist Convention's Ethics and Religious Liberty Commission, recently tweeted: "This Indiana 'compromise' is a train wreck. It should be voted down." This "fix" legislation must be defeated! It is like paying ransom to a kidnapper — a complete abandonment of principle in the face of political pressure from those bent on redefining marriage and imposing a radical agenda on the country. Please sign this petition immediately so that Governor Mike Pence and top Republican legislators realize that we will not stand for this abandonment of people of faith in order to reward the radical left who have grossly mischaracterized the Religious Liberty Restoration Act.

LGBT groups don't like this fix either, but if it gets signed we'll at least get to enjoy lots of wingnut wailing.

Tony Perkins: Veto The Indiana RFRA Fix

"On the eve of Good Friday, Big Business is encouraging elected leaders to take the silver over religious freedom.This new proposal guts the Religious Freedom Restoration Act and empowers the government to impose punishing fines on people for following their beliefs about marriage. Religious freedom should not be held hostage by Big Business. Big Business is now putting religious freedom in a worse place than before RFRA was signed into law. Gutting RFRA in this manner would put people of faith in the crosshairs of government discrimination as never before. Far from being a 'clarification,' this would gut religious freedom in Indiana. Religious freedom doesn't need a 'fix.' This proposal would force religious businesses and even nonprofits deemed 'not religious enough' to participate in wedding ceremonies contrary to their owners' beliefs. If the government punishes people for living their faith, there are no limits to what government can control. We urge the governor to veto this measure that will be used by the government to bring financial ruin on people like florist Barronelle Stutzman, bakers Aaron and Melissa Klein, and wedding photographer Elaine Huguenin." - KKK-affiliated hate group leader Tony Perkins, via press release.

NOTE: If you're wondering why the hate cabal always brings up the same names, that's because (as far as I can tell) only six businesses have ever been fined for violating gay-inclusive public accommodations laws since Wisconsin became the first state with such an ordinance 33 years ago. But go on any wingnut site and you'll be told that evil gays are closing down Christian businesses right and left every single day.

INDIANA: Haters Have The Sadz, Allies & LGBTs Say "Fix" Isn't Good Enough

While FRC vice president JP Duffy and other crackpots rend their garments, our side is pointing out that Indiana's RFRA fix isn't nearly good enough. Via Think Progress:

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.

Also dismissing the fix is Angie's List.

Ted Cruz: The Fortune 500 Wants To Persecute Pastors, Priests, And Rabbis

Ted Cruz is campaigning in Iowa where yesterday he denounced the corporate reaction to RFRA laws in Indiana and Arkansas. Via the Des Moines Register:

"Religious liberty is not some fringe view," Cruz, currently the only declared candidate for president, said to about 300 people in Sioux City, the first stop on a two-day tour. "Sadly, a whole lot of Republicans are terrified of this issue." Cruz had strong words for business leaders who haven't defended religious freedom laws like the one in Indiana, which has sparked a firestorm of debate. "The Fortune 500 is running shamelessly to endorse the radical gay marriage agenda over religious liberty to say: 'We will persecute a Christian pastor, a Catholic priest, a Jewish rabbi,' " he said. "Any person of faith is subject to persecution if they dare disagree, if their religious faith parts way from their political commitment to gay marriage."

Cruz went on to outline his 2016 platform of repealing Obamacare, repealing Common Core, and also something something guns and Jesus.

Carly Fiorina On RFRA And Marriage

"The debate about gay marriage is really a debate about how the government bestows benefits and whether they should be bestowed equally. I believe they should. I also believe that people of religious conviction know that marriage is a religious institution with a spiritual foundation because only a man and a woman can create life, which is a gift that comes from God. We must protect their rights as well. I hope that we come to a place in this country where we are prepared to have respectful differences and tolerate those two views. Religious liberty and tolerance are too important to our country. It is frankly sad to me that politics has become a fact-free zone. It is sad that so many people on the left were quick to turn this into a divisive and destructive debate so they could further their own brand of identity politics. It is sad that CEOs took to Twitter before checking their facts, adding to the division instead of helping build tolerance." - Likely 2016 presidential candidate Carly Fiorina, posting yesterday to her Facebook page.

Doesn't it seem like Fiorina just endorsed same-sex marriage? I thought so and this USA Today headline makes that assertion, but a rep for Fiorina says something different to Bloomberg:

When reached for comment, spokesperson Anna Epstein said that Fiorina has, for years, supported government benefits for same-sex couples bound by civil unions. "Carly is against discrimination and for government benefits for same sex couples," Epstein said. "She's been supportive of civil unions and was supportive of them in her run in California in 2010." In her statement Fiorina chastised "people on the left" as well as the CEOs from companies joining in a boycott of Indiana over its new law for not attempting to help "build tolerance." "It has been tough for some in the media to understand my position because I refuse to join the game of name calling and vitriol. Politics shouldn't be a game, however. We must find a way to respect one another, to celebrate a culture that protects religious freedom while condemning discrimination," Fiornia said.

Jake Tapper Battles Double-Talking Author Of Arkansas License To Discriminate Bill

This was recorded before the revised version of the bill was approved late last night by the Arkansas Senate. Watch this guy babble and deflect in some truly Pence-ian doublespeak and note how he repeatedly says "homosexual" rather than "gay." I'm sure he thinks we find that insulting.

Focus On The Family On RFRA: Leftists Want To Sue Christians Out Of Business

Todd Starnes Has The Walmart Sadz

This one is definitely a boycott threat.

ARKANSAS: Activists Rally For Changes To License To Discriminate Bill

American Family Association: Gays Don't Deserve Civil Rights Because AIDS

The American Family Association is going after Fox News anchor Megyn Kelly for suggesting that all this RFRA uproar would go away if LGBT Americans were simply added to state anti-discrimination laws. Here's their reason:

With all due respect Megyn Kelly, you are wrong. Homosexuals do not need to be a protected class along with blacks. In fact, you do African Americans and civil rights leaders an injustice by comparing homosexuals to blacks that weren’t allowed to vote and were deprived of certain God given rights prior and during the civil rights era. By classifying homosexuals as a “protected class” you are condoning the behavior that the World Health Organization concluded “men who have sex with men are 19 times more likely to have HIV than the general population”. So Megyn, with all due respect, do you still think homosexuals should be a protected class? I would hope not.

The above post was written by Walker Wildmon, son of AFA president Tim Wildmon and grandson of AFA founder Don Wildmon. He concludes by declaring that he doesn't hate gay people. Of course. (Via Good As You)

Porno Pete Has The RFRA Sadz

"Homosexual activists and their sycophants in the media (e.g., CNN's homosexual anchor - activist Don Lemon) are cunningly building upon their distortions of the RFRA to demand a pro-homosexual special-rights law in the Hoosier State. It would be the cruelest of ironies if the media-driven backlash against Indiana's religious freedom law were used to push through a statewide 'gay rights' law in Indiana. Such pro-homosexual laws and corporate policies have been the engine driving PRO-LGBT DISCRIMINATION against people of faith for decades - all in the sweet-sounding name of 'equality.' Politically speaking, it seems bigotry is OK as long as it advances the 'progressive' agenda to impose mandatory acceptance of homosexuality and gender confusion on everyone." - Peter LaBarbera, in a press release published today by Christian Newswire.

Tech Giants Denounce RFRA Bills

Via press release:

The values of diversity, fairness and equality are central to our industry. These values fuel creativity and inspiration, and those in turn make the U.S. technology sector the most admired in the world today. We believe it is critically important to speak out about proposed bills and existing laws that would put the rights of minorities at risk. The transparent and open economy of the future depends on it, and the values of this great nation are at stake.

Religious freedom, inclusion, and diversity can co-exist and everyone including LGBT people and people of faith should be protected under their states’ civil rights laws. No person should have to fear losing their job or be denied service or housing because of who they are or whom they love. However, right now those values are being called into question in states across the country. In more than twenty states, legislatures are considering legislation that could empower individuals or businesses to discriminate against LGBT people by denying them service if it they felt it violated their religious beliefs.

To ensure no one faces discrimination and ensure everyone preserves their right to live out their faith, we call on all legislatures to add sexual orientation and gender identity as protected classes to their civil rights laws and to explicitly forbid discrimination or denial of services to anyone. Anything less will only serve to place barriers between people, create hurdles to creativity and inclusion, and smother the kind of open and transparent society that is necessary to create the jobs of the future. Discrimination is bad for business and that’s why we've taken the time to join this joint statement.

The statement is signed by top executives from eBay, Paypal, Zillow, Twitter, AirBnB, Cisco, SalesForce, Zynga, Yelp, Affirm, Square, Lyft, and many others.