In recent days I’ve been asked to give my opinion about what’s been going on in our state. Do I agree or disagree with the Indiana Religious Freedom Restoration Act? What am I going to say, or do, about it? Am I going to cancel any of my upcoming Indiana shows? As many of the Star’s readers know, I have lived in Indiana since the day I was born, and I know firsthand that our state is populated with a great diversity of people who hold varying religious and political beliefs. The people in our neighborhoods are also racially diverse, live in different types of family units and also span a broad spectrum of sexual and gender identities. Indiana is now, in many ways, the American Melting Pot we all learned about in school. We are more than just tolerant, most of the time. We are welcoming.
So it is with a very heavy heart that I’ve watched the divisiveness that has occurred over our state government’s actions. I am not questioning the sincerity of those who believe they have acted in the interests of religious freedom, but I am resolutely stating my opposition to this misnamed and ill-conceived law. It is discriminatory, hurtful, and a stain on Indiana’s national reputation. I understand Governor Pence and the state legislature are working on some changes to the law’s language, and I can only hope that they will do the right thing for the people of our state.
I have thought seriously about canceling my upcoming shows, not wanting the resulting tax revenues from ticket sales, concessions and the like to help fill the same government coffers that would enforce this terrible law. But then I realized that I would be letting our government divide us again, keeping me apart from my most important audience: My Indiana fans who have been there for me from the very beginning. Our evenings together will be about music, and hopefully this situation will be made right by the time I see you in May.
My best to you all,
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John Mellencamp
— Rock icon John Mellencamp, who was born and still resides in Indiana, in a note posted to his official website about the state’s controversial Religious Freedom Restoration Act signed by Gov. Mike Pence
William Adkins
I’m sorry he feels this way…only by putting pressure on the people of Indiana can those same people pressure their local government to make change. In the end, he is only helping their cause of discrimination, not helping it.
If you’re not a part of the solution, then you’re a part of the problem! Unfortunately, I’ve never been a Melloncamp fan, so I can’t boycott him…
William Adkins
My comment was deleted?
jwtraveler
So, in other words, his heavy heart is moving him to do exactly nothing, but hope that the Indiana state government does the right thing.
How about writing a song in support of gay rights and debuting it at his concerts? How about inviting some gay Indiana musicians to perform with him? How about donating profits from his concerts to support equal rights for gay people?
Brian Markee
Diplomatic, sincere heart-felt letter. Yet, I feel he should cancel his shows until this bill has actually been dismissed. That’s where the strength to conviction of protest really exists.
socaldesign
If he cancels he’s only hurting his fans. Do what Audra McDonald says she’ll do and donate all her take to an organization that will fight for gay rights.
aliengod
Very nice statement. There’s no reason to cancel his shows. This whole thing is being blown WAY out of proportion. We don’t need to enact laws inviting more government control. The way to stop a business from discriminating is to not spend your money there. It’s time for less government, not more!
Billy Budd
He should give the full income $ to gay rights organizations.
jwtraveler
@aliengod: WRONG!
Lookyloo
@William Adkins: Why is canceling concerts his only option. He lives in the state – if he were someone else on a tour I could understand canceling being the best opportunity to send a message – but Mellencamp has a large presence in Indiana and his words carry weight.
Lookyloo
@aliengod: Adding ‘sexual orientation’ to anti-discrimination laws isn’t more government – it’s equal government. These codes and laws are already in place – except in some places LGBTs are not included in those who benefit by the law while others are.
If you’re against all anti-discrimination codes that’s fine – but if they’re going to be in place, ‘sexual orientation’ and ‘gender identity’ should be included (because that wording also protects straight and non-transgenderd people) with all the rest.
onthemark
Right – by the boycott logic, should he go to Kentucky to buy groceries? How would that help?
This is maybe a bit TOO conspiratorial, but here’s a liberal writer on a liberal site (Salon) who points out that Indiana’s economy overall is essentially boycott-proof. The only place that was really hurt by the boycott talk was the most gay-friendly city in the state, Indianapolis. She says all this has played into Pence’s hands and has hurt LGBT people/allies inside Indiana:
http://www.salon.com/2015/04/02/this_is_how_indiana_gov_mike_pence_wins_moral_superiority_religious_freedom_social_media_hypocrisy_and_the_problem_with_boycottindiana/?source=newsletter
balddude13
I liked your comment lookytoo. For as long as I can remember, even when he was John Cougar, Mr. Mellenkamp was a masn of dignity who cared for his home state of Indiana and those who reside there. Watch some of his older videos where he shows an assortment of diverse citizens. Beautifully said John Mellenkamp. I swear I saw a man who looked like Governor Pence at a leather gay bar in Phoenix. Aw shucks. Just kidding.