Connecticut Gov. Dannel Malloy
Governor Dannel Malloy has lifted the Indiana travel ban, two days after a revised version of the Religious Freedom Bill was signed into law by Indiana Gov. Mike Pence.
The CT travel ban, signed into action last week, had forbidden taxpayer-funded travel from CT to IN. New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo lifted the NY to IN state-funded travel ban, as well.
The Religious Freedom Restoration Act was met by an outpour of criticism because of its potential to discriminate against the LGBTQ community. The Religious Freedom Bill prohibited any laws that “substantially burden[s]” a person’s ability to follow their religious beliefs.
Indiana Gov. Mike Pence
Backlash from other states, celebrities, and big name industries was a key factor in persuading Gov. Pence to review and edit the bill.
The revised version of the bill states that the new law cannot be used to discriminate.
Photo by Aaron P. Bernstein/Getty Images
NBC Connecticut news reported that Gov. Dannel Malloy says he is lifting the travel ban because the amendment “provides protections to LGBTQ individuals,” according to a news release from the governor’s office. “Today I am today lifting to ban on state funded travel to Indiana, because I believe the change enacted by the Indiana legislature sufficiently clarifies, in our interpretation, that the law cannot be used to invite discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation and gender identity,” Gov. Dannel P. Malloy said.
Kevin Ollie, UConn Men’s Basketball Head Coach, announced last week that he, and the rest of the UConn coaching staff would not be attending the coaches’ convention at the Final Four in Indianapolis. No changes to his plans have been reported.
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