WASHINGTON -- Recent 'culture wars' that have flared up in the USA have gotten widespread media coverage, but those same cultural battles are happening here in Grassadellia too.
The latest battle in America's ugly culture war happened this week in the mid-west state of Indiana, in the heartland of the country.
Conservative Republicans, who dominate the Indiana state legislature, pushed through a law that allows business owners to refuse services or accommodations to customers if the business owner has a serious moral objection due to their religious beliefs.
Supporters say the law is needed to protect business owners, such as florists, bakers, caterers, and photographers who are morally opposed to same-sex marriage and may be asked to provide services for gay weddings or commitment ceremonies.
They point to a 2013 case in Washington State, where a conservative Christian florist was sued by a gay couple and the state's attorney general after refusing to provide flowers for the couple's wedding.
The florist lost that case but is appealing, according to the Alliance Defending Freedom, a Christian legal advocacy group that is representing the floral shop owner.
Lawmakers in Indiana were seeking to protect similar business owners with deeply-held religious beliefs from having to provide services for events and ceremonies they oppose.
"The law is meant to protect people from religious discrimination by a government body," state Sen. Randy Head, a Republican from the town of Logansport who co-sponsored the bill.
The latest battle in America's ugly culture war happened this week in the mid-west state of Indiana, in the heartland of the country.
Conservative Republicans, who dominate the Indiana state legislature, pushed through a law that allows business owners to refuse services or accommodations to customers if the business owner has a serious moral objection due to their religious beliefs.
Supporters say the law is needed to protect business owners, such as florists, bakers, caterers, and photographers who are morally opposed to same-sex marriage and may be asked to provide services for gay weddings or commitment ceremonies.
They point to a 2013 case in Washington State, where a conservative Christian florist was sued by a gay couple and the state's attorney general after refusing to provide flowers for the couple's wedding.
The florist lost that case but is appealing, according to the Alliance Defending Freedom, a Christian legal advocacy group that is representing the floral shop owner.
Lawmakers in Indiana were seeking to protect similar business owners with deeply-held religious beliefs from having to provide services for events and ceremonies they oppose.
"The law is meant to protect people from religious discrimination by a government body," state Sen. Randy Head, a Republican from the town of Logansport who co-sponsored the bill.
Thanks to large Republican majorities in the state legislature, Indiana's Religious Freedom Restoration Act (RFRA) passed easily over dissent from the minority Democrats, and the bill was quietly signed into law by Republican Governor Mike Pence.
But before Pence even signed the legislation, gay rights groups were decrying the law, which they say promotes and condones discrimination against gays and lesbians specifically, even though the statute technically does not mention the term 'gay' or 'lesbian.'
Hundreds of people gathered at the state capital in Indianapolis and other cities around the state to protest the law, many chanting "no hate in our state."
Democratic state Rep. Ed Delaney told the crowd at the state capital, "This law does not openly allow discrimination, no, but what it does is create a road map, a path to discrimination."
And Indianapolis city council member Zach Adamson, a Democrat, likened the law to racially-biased laws in the Deep South before the USA's Civil Rights Movement.
"This isn't 1950 Alabama; it's 2015 Indiana," he said.
Tech company Salesforce even withdrew employees from Indiana and relocated them out of state in protest.
Facing canceled conventions and concerts, halted business expansions, a drop in tourism, and glaring national media attention, Indiana's business community pleaded with Gov. Pence and state leaders to "fix this now," as the Indianapolis Star newspaper headlined its front page, in big, bold letters.
Under extreme pressure, Pence asked state legislators to "clarify" the law, and asked for amendments to protect gays and lesbians from potential discrimination.
Those amendments were unveiled Thursday morning, and approved before the end of the day. They prevent the law from superseding anti-discrimination ordinances in Indianapolis and other cities, and prohibit discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity.
"There will be some who think this legislation goes too far and some who think it does not go far enough, but as governor I must always put the interest of our state first and ask myself every day, 'What is best for Indiana?'" Pence said after the amendments were approved. "I believe resolving this controversy and making clear that every person feels welcome and respected in our state is best for Indiana."
Pence said earlier this week he "abhor[s] discrimination," and told reporters, "If I was in a restaurant and saw a business owner deny services to someone because they were gay, I wouldn't eat there anymore."
Gay rights groups and Democratic politicians continued to call for a full repeal of the law, as the firestorm of controversy appeared to have slowly dissipated but remained a top talking point for Democrats and liberals.
Meanwhile, the state of Arkansas passed a comparable bill, and Governor Asa Hutchinson (Republican) signed it into law but only after protections were added for gay and lesbian citizens.
The two states' laws have ignited a deeply divisive issue in the US, where gay rights advocates have won many recent legal battles but continue to face opposition from Republicans and conservatives, especially "social conservatives," who vigorously oppose abortion and homosexuality.
Following last week's developments in Indiana, Grassadellian politicians inevitably were forced to confront the issue.
Most condemned the Indiana law, but some Conservatives came out in support of it.
Hundreds of people gathered at the state capital in Indianapolis and other cities around the state to protest the law, many chanting "no hate in our state."
Democratic state Rep. Ed Delaney told the crowd at the state capital, "This law does not openly allow discrimination, no, but what it does is create a road map, a path to discrimination."
And Indianapolis city council member Zach Adamson, a Democrat, likened the law to racially-biased laws in the Deep South before the USA's Civil Rights Movement.
"This isn't 1950 Alabama; it's 2015 Indiana," he said.
Adding to the political firestorm, several major companies denounced the bill, including Apple, drug maker Eli Lilly, hotel chain JW Marriott, online review site Angie's List, the NCAA (National Collegiate Athletic Association) and others.
Tech company Salesforce even withdrew employees from Indiana and relocated them out of state in protest.
Facing canceled conventions and concerts, halted business expansions, a drop in tourism, and glaring national media attention, Indiana's business community pleaded with Gov. Pence and state leaders to "fix this now," as the Indianapolis Star newspaper headlined its front page, in big, bold letters.
Under extreme pressure, Pence asked state legislators to "clarify" the law, and asked for amendments to protect gays and lesbians from potential discrimination.
Those amendments were unveiled Thursday morning, and approved before the end of the day. They prevent the law from superseding anti-discrimination ordinances in Indianapolis and other cities, and prohibit discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity.
"There will be some who think this legislation goes too far and some who think it does not go far enough, but as governor I must always put the interest of our state first and ask myself every day, 'What is best for Indiana?'" Pence said after the amendments were approved. "I believe resolving this controversy and making clear that every person feels welcome and respected in our state is best for Indiana."
Pence said earlier this week he "abhor[s] discrimination," and told reporters, "If I was in a restaurant and saw a business owner deny services to someone because they were gay, I wouldn't eat there anymore."
Gay rights groups and Democratic politicians continued to call for a full repeal of the law, as the firestorm of controversy appeared to have slowly dissipated but remained a top talking point for Democrats and liberals.
Meanwhile, the state of Arkansas passed a comparable bill, and Governor Asa Hutchinson (Republican) signed it into law but only after protections were added for gay and lesbian citizens.
The two states' laws have ignited a deeply divisive issue in the US, where gay rights advocates have won many recent legal battles but continue to face opposition from Republicans and conservatives, especially "social conservatives," who vigorously oppose abortion and homosexuality.
Here in Grassadellia, similar controversies have erupted over the last decade. From gay marriage, to adoptions by gay parents, inheritance and hospital visitation rights for gay couples, and non-discrimination laws to protect gays in housing, employment and military service have become focal points of the Grassadellian culture wars.
Following last week's developments in Indiana, Grassadellian politicians inevitably were forced to confront the issue.
Most condemned the Indiana law, but some Conservatives came out in support of it.
Remmington Gov. Jen Stevens-Taylor, a darling of the right, told STAR-TV's Brian Mackiney he would sign a similar law "in a heart beat."
"If a bakery owner or a photographer or florist does not feel comfortable providing a cake or pictures or flowers for a gay wedding because that violates a very important part of their faith, they should not be forced to participate. If a neo-Nazi group asked a baker to bake a cake celebrating their organization, or a Satanic group asked a business owner to provide services for their event, we would say, 'absolutely, they shouldn't have to do that. These groups support evil and that goes against everything they stand for.' This is the same thing, only instead of a Nazi group or a Satanic group, these latest cases involve homosexuals.
Greg Laskie, the hardline Conservative governor of South Ceona, agreed with his neighbor to the south.
"Religious freedom is being attacked by the left and the media at every turn in this country, and I would sign any bill that protects the right of Grassadellians to morally object to practices they feel violate their sincerely held faith."
Wade Quanson, governor of Wellington, hinted he would support such a bill.
Taking a more moderate approach, Biereland Gov. Ben Jordan, who last month sparked outrage by expressing empathy for anti-Islam protesters, told the GBC he does not condone discrimination, but believes business owners should have the right to decline service to customers if they have a serious moral objection.
"Freedom of speech and freedom of religion do not disappear or diminish when you open a business. Business owners still maintain their Constitutional rights," said Jordan.
He added that it would be in the business owner's best interest economically to embrace non-traditional customers.
"If it was me, personally, I would serve a gay couple. That's just smart business sense. But that should be the owner's prerogative. Ignore that particular customer base at your own peril, financially speaking," said Jordan.
East Deschire Gov. Sam Pyatt (C) said he would support a religious freedom bill if a companion anti-discrimination bill was passed alongside it.
"I'm a Constitutionalist, and I believe in the freedoms that are granted to all Grassadellians by the Constitution. I would favor a religious freedom bill, but I also believe we need to protect against discrimination, and ensure that all East Deschireans are protected from prejudice," said Pyatt.
Monomi Gov. John Densy and North Ceona Gov. Tom Cozier took similar stances when questioned by the media.
The Conservative party's most visible governor, POG's Donna Almone, told the GBC she would not sign a religious freedom bill that discriminated against gays and lesbians.
"That goes against everything Grassadellia stands for. We are a nation that embraces diversity and shares hospitality," she said.
Fellow moderate CNS governors David Brown of Marchenay, Dale Lindstrom of Ansleigha, George Garesby of Harvannah and Tony Ritonio of Kalnier all spoke out against laws that allow discrimination based on religious beliefs.
Governors Dale Fulbright of Armana and Sam Byelle of Carova declined to comment on what they would if faced with legislation similar to Indiana's law.
The nation's NAT governors came out strongly against Indiana's law and proposed laws here in Grassadellia.
"We do not support discrimination or prejudice in any form, even when it's cloaked under the disguise of 'religious freedom,'" Gov. Todd Pergich, of Lial, said in a statement on behalf of the Nationalist Governors Association.
Several CNS senators and assemblymen expressed support for a federal religious freedom statute, while Nationalists assailed the idea.
"That kind of denigrating legislation will not pass as long as the NAT remains in control of the Senate," vowed Damoign Sen. Debbie Madronas.
President Menuhaeo would never approve legislation that discriminates based on gender identity or sexual orientation, his office said.
"President Menuhaeo has consistently stood up for LGBT Grassadellians, and he remains committed to protecting their rights and fighting for all Grassadellians and all minorities," Collester said in a written statement.
In the meantime, the issue has been raised in Monomi, where voters will decide two federal Senate seats in a special election.
Gay rights has already played prominently in the Monomi Senate race, as Conservative candidate Rill Stevens is favored to win. Stevens is the first openly gay member of Congress in Grassadellia's history.
When asked at a town hall meeting in Teedra how he felt about the matter, Stevens criticized Indiana's law and similar proposed laws in Grassadellia, saying he would never vote for them.
"I believe all Grassadellians are created equal, and deserve dignity and respect and fair and equal treatment, from the government, and from our fellow citizens," he said to cheers from the audience.
He added that he also supports religious exemptions for some business owners in certain limited circumstances.
If he wins in Monomi's special Senate election, as expected, Stevens will become the first openly gay senator.
Last December, Jamie Scousenovy (N-Lial) became the first openly bisexual elected to the Senate.
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