A bill that would have provided civil rights protections for lesbian, gay and bisexual Hoosiers died on the Senate floor without a second hearing Tuesday.
Lawmakers and advocacy groups were expecting a public debate, but bill author Sen. Travis Holdman, R-Markle, chose not to call for the second reading.
Advocates for religious exemptions to LGBT protections argued SB344 opened the door for discrimination based on faith.
The bill faced criticism from both sides of the aisle, but many are now saying the real disappointment is that the bill wasn't debated.
"This bill and others introduced this session were deeply flawed, but we were working hard to fix Senate Bill 344," said a statement from Freedom Indiana, a group that has been closely involved in this debate. "We've said from the outset that doing nothing was not an option. Today, lawmakers did nothing to help protect LGBT people in our state, but our work is just beginning.
One of the few vocal supporters of SB344 without amendment was the Indiana Chamber of Commerce.
"Despite its failure in the Senate, the expansion of statewide non-discrimination protections on the basis of sexual oritnetation and gender identity remains squarely on the pro-business agenda," said Michael Huber, President and CEO of the Indiana Chamber, in a statement.
The expansion of statewide non-discrimination protections on the basis of sexual orientation and gender identity remains squarely on the pro-business agenda
Representatives of advocacy groups are saying the bill had significant problems, but they wanted the opportunity to discuss it further.
"Lawmakers left this crucial issue unanswered despite our tireless efforts to help fix the deeply flawed legislation, and despite strong support across the state from faith leaders, business leaders and public officials interested in moving Indiana forward," said Jane Henegar, executive director of the American Civil Liberties Union of Indiana in a statement.Â
"Laws that single out and punish citizens on the basis of their peaceably expressed beliefs should be rejected, and so we are pleased that the Senate stopped pushing the measure forward," said Executive Director Micah Clark in a statement "Every Hoosier should be free to live and work according to their faith without fear of punishment from the state."
Indianapolis Mayor Joe Hogsett lamented the economic impact of the debate of LGBT civil rights.
"Over the last year, Indianapolis neighborhoods have felt the multimillion dollar impact of this debate - in an effort to develop jobs, in our search for talented workforce, and when we are soliciting national convention business," Hogsett said in a statement. "By refusing to take a step forward in the march toward equality this year, the General Assembly risks Indiana falling even more behind."
Indiana Competes, a group of businesses committed to passing non-discrimination legislation, echoed that sentiment.
Lamda Legal also criticized legislators for failing to pass a bill that protects all Hoosiers from discrimination.
"Indiana Senate leadership should have crafted a clean bill to do just that-but instead, they have failed LGBT Hoosiers utterly,"Â Camilla Taylor, Counsel in the Midwest Regional Office said in a statement. "It is disappointing that we cannot get a good faith effort to extend to LGBT people the protections that they desperately need and deserve."
