SB 100: A Headline-Grabbing Attempt at Legislation That Brings False Hope for Equality

INDIANAPOLIS – John Zody, Chairman of the Indiana Democratic Party, issued the following statement to voice concern over Senate Bill 100 and Senate Republicans’ attempt to grab headlines instead of proposing legislation that would actually provide across the board protections for the LGBT community in Indiana.

“Senate Republicans are trying to confound us by introducing a piece of legislation that’s 20 pages long and more than 8,000 words. In reality, all it takes to end legal discrimination in Indiana is four words and a comma. Not only does SB 100 seem to uphold RFRA and pre-empt local communities’ ordinances against discrimination, but it is also loaded with twists and turns that raise questions about intimidation and the provision of social and other services. It also seems to perpetuate the notion that being LGBT is a choice and as such, these Hoosiers will be held to different standards than others. It is clear that SB 100 starts a conversation, but it raises so many questions that four simple words and a comma could solve with the stroke of a pen.”