On Monday, December 21, 2015 at 1:55:23 AM UTC+2, Big Snicker At Ass-less   
   Pants Boi Ed Murray wrote:   
   > The interstate backlash to Indiana's new religious freedom law    
   > is growing even as state lawmakers move to clarify the    
   > legislation, with Seattle Mayor Ed Murray vowing to issue an    
   > executive order this week banning city workers from taxpayer-   
   > funded travel to the state.   
   >    
   > The Seattle mayor's statement is the latest boycott threat to    
   > emerge over claims that the law has the potential to    
   > discriminate against gays and others.   
   >    
   > Murray, a Democrat who is openly gay, says the law doesn't    
   > reflect Seattle residents' values. He also has told all city    
   > departments to review their contracts to see whether Seattle is    
   > doing business with any company whose headquarters is in Indiana.   
   >    
   > "Seattleites know that discrimination has no place in our city,"    
   > he said in a statement over the weekend. "That's just equality    
   > 101."   
   >    
   > The primary concern is that the law might allow a business to    
   > discriminate against gay residents, such as a baker being    
   > allowed refuse an order from a gay couple for a wedding cake.   
   >    
   > But state lawmakers and Republican Gov. Mike Pence have been    
   > defending and trying to explain the Religious Freedom    
   > Restoration Act ever since the governor signed it into law on    
   > Thursday. They note that then-President Bill Clinton in 1993    
   > signed similar federal legislation into law, and 19 other states    
   > also have similar policies.   
   >    
   > However, the Indiana law differs in several ways, primarily in    
   > that it allows a business to assert a right to "the free    
   > exercise of religion."   
   >    
   > On Monday, state Senate President Pro Tem David Long and House    
   > Speaker Brian Bosma, both Republicans, held a press conference    
   > to further explain the law. They said they will swiftly try to    
   > "clarify" its language.   
   >    
   > "The new law does not discriminate," Long said. "And it will not    
   > be allowed. To the extent that we need to clarify through    
   > legislative action, we plan to do just that."   
   >    
   > Aside from Indiana, 15 other states have introduced legislation    
   > in 2015 to craft or alter their religious freedom laws.    
   > Oklahoma, South Carolina and Texas have introduced legislation    
   > to amend their laws. Arkansas, Colorado, Georgia, Hawaii,    
   > Michigan, Montana, Nevada, North Carolina, South Dakota, Utah,    
   > West Virginia and Wyoming are looking to put a similar law on    
   > their books.   
   >    
   > Bosma acknowledged a major concern is whether businesses will    
   > now be legally permitted to deny services to some people, as a    
   > result of the law, and that even he is unclear.   
   >    
   > "We don't believe that will be the effect," he said. "We are    
   > looking at options to clarify that that's the case."   
   >    
   > Long and Bosma also conceded they called the press conference    
   > because Pence failed to clearly explain the law during an    
   > appearance Sunday on ABC's "This Week."   
   >    
   > Pence said the legislation prohibits Indiana laws that    
   > "substantially burden" a person's ability to follow his or her    
   > religious beliefs, with the definition of "person" including    
   > religious institutions, businesses and associations.   
   >    
   > However, he did not answer directly when asked six times    
   > whether, under the law, it would be legal for a merchant to    
   > refuse to serve gay customers.   
   >    
   > Long on Monday also denied that a clarification of the law would    
   > be needed before this weekend's men's NCAA Final Four basketball    
   > championships, in Indianapolis.   
   >    
   > A record-breaking 158,682 people attended the games last year in    
   > Texas. And any boycott would have the potential to cut much    
   > anticipated revenue for Indianapolis-area hotels, restaurants    
   > and other businesses.   
   >    
   > The NCAA, whose headquarters is in Indianapolis, also has    
   > expressed concern about the law, as figures in corporate America    
   > and Hollywood voice their opposition.   
   >    
   > "We are especially concerned about how this legislation could    
   > affect our student-athletes and employees," said NCAA President    
   > Mark Emmert. "We intend to closely examine the implications of    
   > this bill and how it might affect future events as well as our    
   > workforce."   
   >    
   > Angie's List, the business-rating website, this weekend put on    
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