Washington---Facing a firestorm of criticism, Indiana Governor Mike Pence said Tuesday he will seek to tweak a new "religious freedom" law that some warn discriminates against gays in the US state.
Pence told a press conference that the law he signed last week "does not give anyone a license to discriminate."
But amid threats of crippling boycotts, the state's largest newspaper demanded in a front-page editorial that Pence "fix this now" before the measure is causing lasting damage to Indiana's reputation and economy.
"We've got a perception problem," the embattled Republican governor acknowledged.
"After much reflection, and in consultation with leadership of the general assembly, I've come to the conclusion that it would be helpful to move legislation this week to make it clear that this law does not give businesses a right to deny services to anyone," Pence said.
"It's a fix of a bill that through mischaracterization and confusion has come to be greatly misunderstood."
Although he insisted he wanted to act this week and "move forward," Pence did not specify what remedy would be introduced and he stopped short of saying the law will be repealed.
Democratic state Senator Tim Lanane said Pence must take pro-active steps.
"He can't just tinker with this language," Lanane told CNN.
Indiana, where same-sex marriage has been legally recognized since October, has faced a backlash since the legislature passed the Religious Freedom Restoration Act.
Supporters insist the law protects people or businesses from infringement on their religious beliefs.
But critics, including gay rights activists, say it lets Indiana businesses whose owners reject homosexuality on religious grounds turn away LGBT customers.
The law specifically allows individuals and businesses who face discrimination suits to use the defense that serving homosexuals "substantially burdened" their religious freedom.
While Pence noted similar federal legislation was signed by president Bill Clinton in 1993, the White House argued that the Clinton law only applied to interactions with government, whereas Indiana's new law could affect private transactions.
"This is a significant expansion of the law in terms of the way that it would apply," White House spokesman Josh Earnest warned.
With all eyes on Indiana, the state legislature in Arkansas passed a similar religious freedom bill Tuesday, in a move that also could draw criticism.
It now goes to the governor, who is expected to sign the measure, which would make it one of about 20 religious freedom laws on the books in the United States.
AFP
