Freedom Indiana is planning a rally at the Statehouse Monday, in order to give activists a last chance to influence lawmakers before Senate Bill 344 goes to the floor. The proposed measure provides lesbian, gay and bisexual Hoosiers with protection from discrimination.
That part upsets religious groups, who say people will be forced to provide services against their faith. The bill doesn’t include protections for the transgender community – which upsets LGBT advocates. This lack of support from either side of the debate concerns House Speaker Brian Bosma.
“I wish we had a better compromise to work from but as I said, I’m not criticizing it," Bosma said. "I said this was going to be a heavy lift.”
Senate Republican Leader David Long echoed Bosma's comments, saying he wasn’t surprised by the lack of support in committee testimony.
“It’s understandable, particularly when both sides on either extreme, far right and far left, are so passionate on this. There’s no give with those groups.”
The measure is up for amendments on the floor Monday. Several senators say they’d like to see many changes made to the bill. The deadline for a finalized version of SB344 is Wednesday.
