U.S. Feds Celebrate Amendment to Indiana Law

(ATR)Indiana-based NGBs including USA Gymnastics and USA Track & Field are celebrating amendments made to the state'sReligious Freedom Restoration Act.

"The amendments mark an important step forward for Indiana," USA Gymnastics president Steve Penny said in a statement on Friday.

"USA Gymnastics believes these changes ensure that we can stage our national championships and the USA Gymnastics National Congress and Trade Show in an atmosphere that is welcoming and open to every member of our organization and our fans."

The law, which began as Senate Bill 101, says the state cannot "substantially burden a person's exercise of religion" unless it is advancing a "compelling government interest" and acting in the least restrictive way possible.

Some saw the law as giving businesses the right to discriminate against others on the basis of sexual orientation.Over the past week, civil and gay rights groups have protested against the discriminatory nature of the legislation.

The changes made to the law on Thursday prohibitdiscrimination on the basis of sexual orientation and gender identity along with race, color, religion, ancestry, age, national origin, disability or U.S. military service.

"The intersection of sports and politics has been monumental over the past week, and it’s apparent that USA Gymnastics is, and always has been, on the right side of history," U.S. gymnast Josh Dixon said in a statement.

"My first national championships were in Indianapolis back in 2005, and I look forward to returning this August to compete alongside our country's best gymnasts."

USA Track & Field CEO Max Siegel also acknowledged the fast-acting Indiana State Legislature in a statement on Friday.

"As an Indianapolis-based organization, it is important to USATF that the laws of our state are consistent with our organizational values."

He added, "This issue has brought together leaders in sport, culture, government and business around the country.

"We must all work together to ensure equality of access and opportunity, now and in the future."

This week, the state of Georgia faced its own controversy over a "religious freedom" bill.

Around 200 opponents of the bill rallied against it at the state capitol on Tuesday.Protesters said Senate Bill 129 would lead to discrimination of the LGBT community.

SB 129, like Indiana's law, would prevent state or local government from infringing on the religious beliefs of an individual without a compelling interest to do so.

The language mirrors federal legislation passed in 1993 under President Bill Clinton.Twenty other states have similar laws.

The 2015 Georgia legislative session came to early Friday morning.

The "religious freedom" bill never came up for a vote in either in the House or Senate on the final day, according to Atlanta radio station WSB. Passed earlier in the Senate, the measure stalled in a House committee.

State Sen. Josh McKoon, the sponsor of SB 129, says he will push for its passage again next year.

"I'm going to be at district conventions in April; I'm going to be in Athens in May.

"We are going to very strongly argue that the Republican Party needs to continue to stand for individual freedoms including the right of free exercise [of religion]," he says.

Written byNicole Bennett

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