Indiana backlash: Opposition to anti-gay law grows

Indiana's religious freedom law: Belief or bigotry?
Indiana's religious freedom law: Belief or bigotry?

Add Angie's List to the roster of companies and business interests taking a stand against Indiana's new anti-gay law.

CEO Bill Oesterle announced Saturday that the company had put its proposed campus expansion project in Indianapolis "on hold" following the passage of the Religious Freedom Restoration Act.

Angie's List, a business-rating website, was expected to break ground on the campus expansion within days.

"We are putting the 'Ford Building Project' on hold until we fully understand the implications of the freedom restoration act on our employees, both current and future," Oesterle said in a statement.

"Angie's List is open to all and discriminates against none and we are hugely disappointed in what this bill represents."

Indiana's Religious Freedom Restoration Act gives businesses owners who oppose homosexuality for religious reasons the right to turn away gay, lesbian and transgender people.

Governor Mike Pence, who signed the law Thursday, hailed it as a victory for "religious liberty."

On Saturday, Pence told The Indianapolis Star that he supported introduction of new legal language to "clarify" that the new law does not promote discrimination.

Related: Indiana religious freedom: What you need to know

Pence told the Star that a new bill would likely be introduced within days but did not specify what it would say or who would introduce it.

Freedom Indiana, a group opposing the law, called on Pence to "fix the bill to protect all Hoosiers, and make it clear our state is open for business again."

Tim Cook's push for LGBT equality
Tim Cook's push for LGBT equality

Other businesses have also spoken out against the law saying, it will make it harder to attract employees and customers. They note that Indiana doesn't currently have any laws prohibiting discrimination against gay people.

NBA, WNBA, Indiana Pacers and Indiana Fever: "The game of basketball is grounded in long established principles of inclusion and mutual respect. We will continue to ensure that all fans, players and employees feel welcome at all NBA and WNBA events in Indiana and elsewhere."

Pacers and Fever owner Herb Simon added: "The Indiana Pacers, Indiana Fever and Bankers Life Fieldhouse have the strongest possible commitment to inclusion and non-discrimination on any basis. Everyone is always welcome at Bankers Life Fieldhouse. That has always been the policy from the very beginning of the Simon family's involvement and it always will be."

Apple: CEO Tim Cook tweeted that "Apple is open for everyone. We are deeply disappointed in Indiana's new law... Around the world, we strive to treat every customer the same — regardless of where they come from, how they worship or who they love."

Indiana Chamber of Commerce: "In our eyes, the law is entirely unnecessary. Passing the law was always going to bring the state unwanted attention."

Eli Lilly: "We certainly understand the implications this legislation has on our ability to attract and retain employees. Simply put, we believe discriminatory legislation is bad for Indiana and for business."

Eli Lilly (LLY) employs more than 11,700 workers in Indiana, mostly in Indianapolis.

Related: Tim Cook 'disappointed' by Indiana anti-gay law

NCAA: "We are especially concerned about how this legislation could affect our student-athletes and employees."

Indianapolis is a major destination for conventions and sporting events, including the upcoming NCAA Final Four college basketball tournament.

NCAA President Mark Emmert said the NCAA will "work diligently" to ensure competitors and visitors at next week's Final Four are not "negatively impacted by this bill."

Gen Con, the video game convention: The law would "factor into our decision making on hosting the convention in the state of Indiana in future years."

The convention brought 56,000 people to the state last year, according to Gen Con CEO Adrian Swartout.

Related: Guinness returns to sponsor N.Y.'s St. Patrick's Day Parade

Salesforce: CEO Marc Benioff said on Twitter (TWTR) that his company will "dramatically reduce our investments" in Indiana, calling the law an "outrage." Benioff called on other CEOs in the tech industry to follow suit.

Yelp: CEO Jeremy Stoppelman said the company will "make every effort" to expand its corporate operations in states that do not have such laws on the books. "These laws set a terrible precedent that will likely harm the broader economic health of the states where they have been adopted, the businesses currently operating in those states and, most importantly, the consumers who could be victimized under these laws."

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