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Indiana businesses urge Congress to pass LGBTQ protections

INDIANAPOLIS (AP): More than 100 Indiana businesses are urging Congress to pass legislation stalled in the Senate that would extend federal civil rights protections to LGBTQ people, saying in a letter that “discrimination is bad for business.”

Prominent businesses such as Eli Lilly and Co., Cummins Inc., Roche Diagnostics and Salesforce are among the Indiana companies that signed the letter urging passage of the Equality Act. The Indiana Chamber of Commerce, Indy Chamber and some small businesses have also signed it.

Although large companies often lobby and contribute to federal campaigns, the letter signals a rare concerted public effort by a coalition of Indiana businesses to affect federal policy, The Indianapolis Star reported. Hundreds of other businesses around the country, including dozens Fortune 500 companies, also support the legislation.

“Indiana is the home of Hoosier hospitality. Whether we’re recruiting new employers or hosting March Madness, we welcome all,” the letter states. “That is why, as members of Indiana’s business community, we urge Congress to pass the Equality Act to ensure that all Americans are treated with respect and dignity, regardless of their sexual orientation or gender identity.”

Indiana businesses tried pushing for LGBTQ protections in a state hate crimes bill in 2019, but what was signed into law fell short of their expectations.

In February, the Equality Act passed the House largely along a party-line vote and it has so far stalled in the split Senate. Indiana Sen. Mike Braun and other Senate Republicans have argued the bill could lead to inequity in athletics.

“Most alarming are the consequences this bill will have for children. Schools would be forced to allow biologically male students to compete against girls in sports, entirely destroying the idea of women’s sports and robbing young women of athletic scholarships,” Braun wrote in an op-ed in April.

Supporters of the act call that an “inaccurate portrayal” of the bill and said that it would not affect who can participate in girls’ sports.

In their letter, the Indiana businesses wrote in urging the bill’s passage that, “From our perspective, discrimination is bad for business.”

“In order to attract and retain top talent, we need all states — including the Hoosier State — to be welcoming and accepting of all people. It’s not just the right thing to do — it also just makes economic sense,” the letter states.

Read the bill here.

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3 comments

Rocky July 26, 2021 at 10:34 am

NO MORE RELIGIOUS FREEDOM!!!!!!!!!

“SEC. 1107. CLAIMS. “The Religious Freedom Restoration Act of 1993 (42 U.S.C. 2000bb et seq.) shall not provide a claim concerning, or a defense to a claim under, a covered title, or provide a basis for challenging the application or enforcement of a covered title.”.

This IS another attempt to take Rights from Peter and give them to Paul…

This will start a whole bunch of Bathroom laws, men playing women’s sports, Christian baker being forced to make a cake (see Citation about)…..

The way this is written, Cops wouldn’t even be able to ask if someone is in this Country Legally or not without a potential lawsuit.

“SEC. 1101. DEFINITIONS AND RULES. ” a perception or belief, even if inaccurate, concerning the race, color, religion, sex (including sexual orientation and gender identity), or national origin, respectively, of the individual.”

DON”T DO IT INDIANA!!!!

Reply
Pat July 26, 2021 at 12:18 pm

The so-called Equality Act is not about equality at all; it is about giving special rights to some people while ignoring the First Amendment rights of others that are guaranteed by the Constitution. Democrats, “woke” businesses, and the Chamber of Commerce are all in for destroying everything that is good in our nation. Just say NO to this power grab.

Reply
Rachel July 27, 2021 at 10:11 am

They always give these Acts or Laws a nice feel-good name. I think at this point we can just apply the complete opposite to all of them…
We are all just pawns in their sick game.

Reply

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