An Indiana judge handed religious conservative groups a loss in their lawsuit challenging the so-called “fix” to the state’s controversial Religious Freedom Restoration Act, or RFRA.
The RFRA fix said the 2015 law’s religious freedom defense couldn’t be used to justify denying service to someone based on characteristics such as age, race, sexual orientation or gender identity.
Religious conservative groups argued in court last month they want to discriminate against the LGBTQ community. And that’s why they said the fix and local anti-discrimination ordinances infringed on their religious beliefs, thus violating the Constitution.
But the state and four cities – Bloomington, Carmel, Columbus and Indianapolis – said there’s no evidence the groups actually discriminate against anyone.
And a Hamilton County judge seems to agree; he ruled against the religious groups.
Contact Brandon at bsmith@ipbs.org or follow him on Twitter at @brandonjsmith5.
