LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

Don't bully Christian business owners

Indiana
A protestor holds up a sign opposing SB 101, the Religious Freedom Restoration Act, outside the House chamber on March 23, 2015.

It is remarkable how quickly the heavyweights are gathering to bully the state for protecting small Christian businesses. As the Gen Con ultimatum joins the intimidation tactics used by business giants Eli Lilly and Co., Cummins and others in the war against liberty of conscience in Indiana, one is left wondering who is discriminating against whom?

With changing times comes the need for changing legal protections (the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender community of all people should understand this!). In this brave new world being created before our eyes, it is already becoming clear that a new embattled minority is emerging — Christian-owned businesses in the wedding and hospitality industry. Why are they to be denied legal protection against coercion to provide services that tacitly require a personal endorsement of and participation in a practice they conscientiously believe to be immoral?

It is one thing to have a legal right to wed in this state — it is another to bully fellow Hoosiers whose conscience prevents them from playing a supporting role on your big day. On any other day of the week, I doubt they'll be asking you what way you roll before they serve you.

David Whitla, Indianapolis