New York’s Governor Andrew Cuomo, pictured, signed an order on Monday that bans state-funded travel to Indiana as a response to the state’s new religious objections law, which is being slammed as discriminatory.
New York’s Governor Andrew Cuomo signed an order on Tuesday that bans state-funded travel to Indiana as a response to the state’s new religious objections law, which is being slammed as discriminatory.
The law, newly signed and defended by Indiana Governor Mike Pence, is considered by critics as discriminatory because it would essentially allow businesses to refuse services to customers due to business owners’ religious beliefs.
Legislators in Indiana are stating, in reports, that language will be added to the law to clarify that it doesn’t mean discrimination against gay people is allowed.
“Today, I direct all agencies, departments, boards and commissions to immediately review all requests for state funded or state sponsored travel to the State of Indiana and to bar any such publicly funded travel that is not essential to the enforcement of state law or public health and safety,” Cuomo stated in a release on Tuesday.
Cuomo added, “The ban on publicly funded travel shall take effect immediately. New York State has been, and will continue to be, a leader in ensuring that all LGBT persons enjoy full and equal civil rights. With this action, we stand by our LBGT family members, friends and colleagues to ensure that their rights are respected.”
A similar travel ban was signed by Connecticut Governor Dannel Malloy on Monday, and Washington and San Francisco lawmakers planned to do the same.
