Last week, Indiana Governor Mike Pence ended his chances of ever being elected to national office when he quietly signed into law a draconian measure that grants business owners the right to discriminate against gays and lesbians in the name of “religious freedom.” Naturally, this didn’t go over so well with the general public, other politicians, business owners, celebrities, or state employees, all of whom have voiced opposition to Pence’s blatantly homophobic actions.
In an effort to do some damage control, Governor Pence went on ABC’s This Week to defend, er, explain the puritanical new law. The only problem was, he couldn’t.
George Stephanopoulos asked the governor a total of eight times whether or not he believed discrimination against gays and lesbians should be legal, and every time Pence deflected the question. At one point he went so far as to say critics of his new law were “shameless” and “reckless.”
See Pence squirm in the video below.
How about we take this to the next level?
Our newsletter is like a refreshing cocktail (or mocktail) of LGBTQ+ entertainment and pop culture, served up with a side of eye-candy.
Related stories:
The Fallout From Indiana’s “Religious Freedom” Law Is Getting Even Uglier
Hilarious Indiana Travel Commercial Boasts “It’s A Great Place To Be A Bigot!”
Desert Boy
Gov. Mike Pence is an anti-gay bigot. He can’t say if supports anti-gay discrimination because he’s angling for a VP spot on Jebby Bush’s 2016 ticket.
Ralph Trojanowicz
He should feel uncomfortable…
Kirk Montrealer
WHAT THE HECK IS THIS DUDE SO AFRAID OF….?? It is like he is trying to hiding something by screaming the loudest..What would he do if he had a gay kid or grandkid ?? Would love to see how this played out if it was a black/white issue he had a problem with.
Ron Jackson
Pence’s career is probably over. Good riddance.
They should just rename the “Religious Freedom” law to what it really is. The Freedom to be a bigot law.
Indiana is Republican simply because the ignorant city dwellers and the ignorant rural voters actually vote in elections. If there is going to be a change in Indiana and in other Midwestern states the general population (which is generally more liberal in their views) need to get their asses to the polls on election day. It is time to stop letting the bigots have their way.
BJ McFrisky
What about Pennsylvania’s identical law?
Rhode Island’s?
Missouri’s?
Kentucky’s?
Connecticut’s?
All governed by . . . wait for it . . . Democrats.
Hypocrisy, thy name is liberalism.
Giancarlo85
@BJ McFrisky: None of those states have identical laws. NONE.
And Kentucky and Missouri aren’t governed by democrats.
The only state that has a similar law to Indiana is Mississippi. You need to look at the specific wording, instead of going by your braindead ideas.
Giancarlo85
@BJ McFrisky: And you want hypocrisy… look in the mirror you backstabbing self hating puto.
KRNYC
This law is quite different. Here’s why: http://thinkprogress.org/lgbt/2015/03/30/3640374/big-lie-media-tells-indianas-new-religious-freedom-law/
Ron Jackson
@BJ McFrisky: He BJ! Stop listening to the airheads on hate radio and think for yourself.
Xzamilio
@BJ McFrisky: None of the RFRA laws in those 19 states are identical to Indiana’s and furthermore, Indiana’s is the only one that extends to private citizens, meaning corporations can now use this law to justify discrimination. And by the way, most of those states with RFRA laws have LGBT individuals as a protected class, while Indiana does not. Frankly, this will blow up in their faces when corporations, businesses, and individuals looking to violate laws while claiming religious exemption muddy up the water and start costing taxpayers money with lawsuits and litigation.
It’s not about hypocrisy… it’s about you once again attempting to lie and pretend that these measures are the same when they are not. Some intellectual honesty is needed on your part, my good man.
Giancarlo85
@KRNYC: EXACTLY.
Those states DO NOT have laws like what Indiana has implemented. And I forgot about Arizona. They came the closest to implement a law like what Indiana implemented, but even Jan Brewer saw the writing on the wall and vetoed it.
Indiana’s law is extreme. It is one of the most extreme in the country. I think only Mississippi has a law like it.
The conservatives will peddle the lie that 19th other states have the law, but that’s a fallacy. They do that to distract from the fact that Indiana’s law is draconian and completely unconstitutional and illegal.
Giancarlo85
@Xzamilio: Well, republicans love spending taxpayers money on lawsuits they could possibly never win… and they just love spending taxpayers money in general. Then when they fail they like to claim they are being victimized.
BJ McFrisky
@Ron Jackson: Radio? What are you, 80?
TheNewEnergyDude
@BJ McFrisky: there is Internet radio. Also, people do still listen to the radio as well.
Bauhaus
@BJ McFrisky:
Here’s one more reason you are a boot licker:
These deplorable laws in states you mention are already be on the books, as is the federal law, signed during a very different time and political environment in American history.
Pence signed this legal bigotry and discrimination into law last week. But never mind that, BJ.
Desert Boy
@BJ McFrisky: Why are you on Queerty again? You’re just troll.
onthemark
@BJ McFrisky: It’s all because there’s literally nothing left about Christianity except hating gay people. That’s it, that’s the entire fucking religion at this point. You CLAIM not to be religious, so why do you stick up for them? Just because you hate “liberals”? That makes no sense.
But apparently the cake bakers are the most homophobic Christians around, for some reason. (Who knew?)
And no gay person in these Bible Belt states has the Pink Pages.
Can somebody please start a gay-owned, cake baking, overnight delivery service?
If Legal Seafoods in Boston can do it for lobster dinners, you’d think somebody would start this.
You’re supposedly the big pro-capitalist around here, can you do it? Can you do something useful for a change? Is that too much to ask?
If not, we’ve got your cool camo outfit all set for you to go to Syria to fight ISIS!
Anyway, how are your new reading glasses? I hope you haven’t mistaken a r@cist for a rapist recently?
Eric Carr
cause he’s Afraid to answer it. he can’t deny it’s true.
Alex Rothwell
That’s because he supports discrimination.
Luis H. Lopez
The little Hitler can’t speak man up you homophobic bigot! We should as gays chase you and your NAZI party out of office !
Ander
@BJ McFrisky: “Radio? What are you, 80?”
That’s your response? What are you, redundant?
Blackceo
Old white man using his political power and prejudice to legislate discrimination. Nothing new to see here.
Dennis Sandoval
fucking coward
Dakotahgeo
I can only presume that Governor Asshole Pence is a twin brother of Governor Brownshit of Kansas. They both smell the same politically and religiously.
BJ McFrisky
@Xzamilio: Here’s my contribution in the field of intellectual honesty:
For the love of Harvey Milk, if a bakery doesn’t like who you are and doesn’t want to serve you, then go to another bakery, because if a law forces them to bake you a cake, you can rest assured it will be of the lowest possible quality, yes? That’s IF it hasn’t been “spiced up” in some way. Take those brownie bucks to a gay baker and make the world a better place all around.
Kangol
I’m glad Indianapolis’s mayor is defying the law to the extent legally possible.
http://www.rawstory.com/rs/2015/03/gop-indianapolis-mayor-defies-pence-bans-discrimination-by-christian-businesses-receiving-city-funds/
Unlike what GOP supporter @BJ McFrisky says, Indiana’s law is far more extreme than anything on the books, save what Mississippi has legislated, and represents a sharp turn backwards.
Just remember that this is what the GOP has done and will continue to do, but it’s not unlike the r@cism and segregation that extremists pushed in the past. When you vote for them, this is part of what you’re getting.
Kangol
I should add Indianapolis’s mayor is Republican, and even he sees how discriminatory this law is, and is signing an executive order to uphold the city of Indianapolis’s human rights statute.
Giancarlo85
@BJ McFrisky: Are you that blind? Why don’t you tell a black person… if a business doesn’t want to serve you, go to another business? You are an idiot, and you’re not even worth a reply.
aliengod
I don’t think the Governor was uncomfortable at all. He’s made it abundantly clear that he’s anti LGB. He’s an idiot that thinks he may have a shot at the Presidency. God help us!
Paul Proulx
Fucking bigot
Giancarlo85
Anti-LGBT.
Michael Colwell
Karma will get him….
Ean Triston Nelson
polarisfashion
Gee, another conservative that can’t answer a yes or no question, how original!
aliengod
@Giancarlo85: Just yesterday you were demanding it be LGBTQQI. Are you sure there aren’t more letters you’d like to add to our acronym? Why not the ABCDEFGHIJKLMNOPQRSTUVWXYZ community? After all, how dare you exclude a letter! Call it what you like, I belong to the LGB community. Nothing more.
Giancarlo85
@aliengod:
Sorry. ANTI-LGBTQQI.
I wrote that post from my cellphone and it autocorrected.
You’re a psychopath. You need mental help immediately. By the way, lesbians were often excluded by gay men in the 1960s of certain organizations, would have you been in favor of that too? You’re a moron. here is no such thing as the LGB community. It’s LGBTQQI.
Stupid ignorant fucking blockhead. Probably one of those fake “masculine” types who hides in the closet all the time.
Low Country Boy
@Michael Colwell: Karma is a bitch and I am her messenger. I haven’t gotten that memo yet. Just wait.
aliengod
@Giancarlo85: Even your cell phone knows the bulls!t you spew is incorrect. LOL. Once again, all you know to do is reply with personal attacks and name calling. Perhaps because you’re aware that what you’re saying is ridiculous. Masculine, yes, but no, I’ve been out of the closet for many years.
Jesse Erickson
“I’m working hard to clarify this.” Me thinks he’s made himself very clear
Xzamilio
@BJ McFrisky: So glad that you now realize what utter garbage you were spewing in the beginning as you have not addressed a single counter to your initial comment. But, here’s the deal: For the love of Milli Vanilli, you don’t get to decide which laws you want to follow and which you don’t. You want to discriminate? Fine… discriminate. But, don’t then get miffed when customers utilize free market strategies and hit you where it really hurts: your wallet. They’re asking for a freaking cake, not a freaking cake plus unconditional support for gay marriage and homosexuality. Besides, if you allow that kind of discrimination it opens a Pandora’s box for other types of discrimination under the guise of sky daddy… and no thanks to that.
clg19672004
LOL, idiot
aliengod
@Xzamilio: I don’t agree with this bill. However, there’s a part of me that thinks it’s not really such a big deal. Why would the LGB community want to hire businesses that don’t support us? Why do we want to force businesses that hate us to pander to us? Do I really want a cake from a bakery that is being forced by law to provide it? NO! So why have a law that forces the bakery to provide it?
Giancarlo85
@aliengod: You are the biggest bullshit artist on tuis website. You irrelevant stupid little man. Someone like you is a loser and you need to realize how correct I am. You are a fat impotent loser who doesn’t have any real social skills. Just another stupid right wing sell out. Stay in the closet please.
Giancarlo85
The law isn’t a big deal? Oh really? So discrimination I fine? You are a fucking sell out. You are not honest and you would be willing to hurt other gay people. You are a nasty bully and a nasty hypocrite.
aliengod
@Giancarlo85: Ugh! As usual, you have no logical response beyond personal attacks using poor grammar and misspelled words (tuis). Maybe if you’d make a point regarding the topic instead of trying to bully people about their beliefs, you’d be taken seriously. That’s probably out of your grasp. Here’s some advice… in your response, try omitting the words “troll”, “right wing”, or “stupid”. Just a suggestion.
Giancarlo85
@aliengod: Goodness… you can only harp on about one typo? Have you read the fucking trash you write on here? Do you read what you write before you hit the “post comment” button? Your grammar is absolutely horrendous. YOu do not have any ground to stand on.
Day after day you attack and bully people on here and you accuse me of bullying? You are quite a hypocrite. You attack trans people at every possible moment of convenience. You are like a child.
And here is a saying “Don’t throw stones from a glass house!” You should follow that advice, especially since your own grammar is shit and your logic is non-existent.
Giancarlo85
” Why do we want to force businesses that hate us to pander to us? Do I really want a cake from a bakery that is being forced by law to provide it? NO! So why have a law that forces the bakery to provide it?”
Why should black people force a business that only wants to serve white people?
Same shit, different day.
You have the logic skills of a 15 year old.
Giancarlo85
And FYI, I am not here to write an essay. I get my point across just fine. I don’t need to elaborate for a dumb stupid bully like you. I know you hate feminine gay men and trans people… I know deep in your heart you want them gone from this world. And I know you probably smile when you see someone commit suicide when they don’t fit into your worldviews of “manhood”.
DarkZephyr
@BJ McFrisky: As has been pointed out to you, the laws are not identical. This article explains it:
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/brynn-tannehill/what-you-need-to-know-abo_20_b_6970024.html?utm_hp_ref=gay-voices
DarkZephyr
So did mine, Cam’s and jwtraveler’s earlier comments get deleted or did I hallucinate that they ever happened?
Saint Law
@aliengod: Masculine – you? Bitch, please.
As for your whining about personal attacks – there’s a saying “play the ball, not the player”. But what if you have no ball?
Then don’t be surprised when you’re kicked from one end of the field to the other like the brainless, boneless little gollum that you are.
Saint Law
@BJ McFrisky: Oh look, a Republican parts his buttocks and starts straining and there you are right on cue with your mouth open.
“Would you like me to lick that clean for you afterward too, sir?”
Saint Law
@DarkZephyr: Somebody went crying to the moderetard.
darian
I bet he thought he was going to get a standing ovation for passing this idiotic law. If anything he has show just how unpopular conservative “values” are amongst majority of America. If anything i hope this law opens up discussion or measures to pass state wide anti-discrimination laws for all states that need to be passed as well.
DarkZephyr
@BJ McFrisky: even Fox News understands that these laws are not the same:
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2015/03/30/fox-host-debunks-mike-pence_n_6972090.html?utm_hp_ref=gay-voices&ir=Gay%20Voices
@Saint Law: so I am assuming that with the influx of all these new Queerty members from Facebook (many of whom seem to be homophobes) queerty is actually moderating now? At any rate, nothing I had said violated any rules so I am surprised it was deleted. I recall in the not so distant past we could NOT get the crap spewed by certain a-holes deleted at all.
Leonard Woodrow
@Kirk Montrealer: “What would he do if he had a gay kid or grandkid ?”
He is probably stupid enough to try to have them “cured”. Such unintelligent people should never be elected to public offices in the first place.
transiteer
When you DON’T vote, this is what happens. You’re ruled by your INFERIORS.
sectbrawn
BJ Mcfucktard,
As a resident of Connecticut I can safely say there is no similar law here in Connecticut. Did Reich wing talk radio blow that fact down your throat and you gobbled it down with the rest of the lie chowder?
Sigurgeir Ö. Magnússon
Bigots sure take a long time to say “Yes” these days.
jpcheek2
While other states have enacted or are enacting RFRA statues (including my own NC) Indiana’s is the most invasive. The talk about being refused service at bakers, restaurants & florists is valid. Those acts are reprehensible. However, it goes much deeper than that. The Indiana law would allow doctors, nurses, paramedics & dentists to refuse to treat LGBT patients. Law enforcement officers could refuse to investigate hate crimes. Firefighters could refuse to answer a call to the fire at an LGBT couple’s home. The implications of the RFRA laws are staggering. They can affect housing, jobs. Instead of fighting among ourselves in this forum, I respectfully admit that the real enemies are those who would denigrate us & reduce us to 2nd class citizens.
jpcheek2
@darian: Yes, the economic backlash has been more than the Governor anticipated. I sincerely hope you’re right that this opens up a dialogue leading to more anti-discrimination legislation. First, however, I believe that the judiciary will have to strike down these laws as being Unconstitutional. That may take a while & I’m growing impatient with the system!
jpcheek2
I have a question & I hope for some respectful dialogue. How can we, in our communities (I hate the phrase “the gay community”, it makes it sound like we all live in the same gated complex) combat the various RFRAs without fighting each other? Can we let go of our private agendas in favor of the greater good? Nothing would please the Conservatives more than for us to cannibalize each other.
rickhfx
His silence on a simple yes no question says it all. What a poor ill man.
Sluggo2007
Everyone here is all worked up about this guy. He just committed political suicide. Just let him continue to ruin himself. No need to get excited.
JJinAus
@BJ McFrisky: Badly educated apostrophe-abusing troll, thy names is Republican. What’s the matter (notice correct apostrophe usage), are you bored preaching to your fellow banjo pluckers?
jpcheek2
@Sluggo2007: Agreed. Gov. Pence may have committed political suicide (obvious in his recent ABC interview), but he didn’t enact this law alone. He was presented the RFRA by his state legislature. Indiana is notoriously a red state. While we’re waiting for the political pendulum to swing to a more liberal or even moderate position, the damage has been done to LGBT citizens living in that state.
Xzamilio
@aliengod: First of all, it’s not a special law for us LGBT people (not sure why you keep leaving the T off… ) that forces bakeries to violate their beliefs. Second, they are doing their damn jobs and nothing more. It’s not a blessing of gay marriage of homosexuality… it’s a cake, man. They’re being forced to do their job… if they don’t want to do their job and serve the public, they can gladly go into the private sector or close up shop. I personally wouldn’t want a cake from any place that discriminates, but I’d make damn sure everyone knew what kind of establishment they were.
BJ McFrisky
@aliengod: Your use of common sense will be neither acknowledged nor appreciated here. After all, these are the people who believe Barack Obama is the most qualified person ever to hold the presidency. And, they’ll also believe you and I (and anyone who doesn’t ascribe to their ideology) are the same person, commenting under various names.
@JJinAus: “Badly educated, apostrophe-abusing . . . Republican”? That’s rich. Like every other liberal sycophant, you assume that anyone who doesn’t embrace your Bizarro-World logic must politically be the polar opposite.
Also, if a spelling/grammatical error is the most powerful ammo you have in your arsenal against common sense, then you’re beyond weak. But, I challenge you to point one out. Just one. Show me where I “abused” an apostrophe. Go ahead. Cite the instance. Come on, you’re so aware and I’m so clueless, so school me in my ignorance—please.
Xzamilio
@BJ McFrisky: It’s not common sense… it is simplistic reasoning that requires little to no scrutiny. Look, I don’t care what party you align yourself with, although, it is quite odd that would identify with a party that uses us as their platform when it comes to stirring up the beehive of LCDs in that bunch. By the way, you’d be surprised to know, but we’re not all shills of Obama just because we see Republicans as bible thumping bigots. Obama is lazy as hell and has dragged his feet on gay rights his entire presidency. He’s done the bare minimum, so don’t sit there and act like you have an argument because you don’t; just more red herrings as you continue to not address a single point that was lobbied at you.
Also, I don’t think you and aliengod are the same person… I have no problem believing there are more than one of you.
Giancarlo85
@BJ McFrisky: What common sense? I didn’t see any common sense in his rants. And I haven’t seen any common sense in yours. Where did we say anything about Barack Obama? I think Obama is an average President who wasn’t confrontational enough when he needed to be. He was too soft when dealing with republicans. But then again, even this relatively weak President is better and more qualified than any shitball Republican out there.
I rate Obama high in certain issue and low in other issues. And to be honest, Joe Biden was the one that forced Obama to play his hand for same sex marriage. I kind of give credit to Biden for that.
By the way, BJ… you just said aliengod was using common sense, and then you criticized people who attack others for making spelling/grammatical errors. Aliengod criticized me for a spelling error and that is all he had as far as an argument.
Thanks for proving how much of a HYPOCRITE you are.
Giancarlo85
@BJ McFrisky: “you assume that anyone who doesn’t embrace your Bizarro-World logic must politically be the polar opposite.”
As compared to your shitty republican viewpoints? The real sycophant here. You’re also a pseudo-intellectual.
I think the politicaly right needs to understand their views don’t match up with reality. They match up with wetdream fantasy. Time to come back to reality!
BJ McFrisky
@Xzamilio: What point was lobbed at me that I didn’t address? I never intended to be ambiguous, but I will state this again: I. Am. Not. A. Republican. If I must be labeled, then be it with libertarianism, not conservatism. Which means I believe in both the right for us to marry and the rights of others to object.
On a side note, the rest of your comment was very civil, which does not go unappreciated.
Ander
@BJ McFrisky:
What was lobbed at you was a refutal of your assertion that the law in Indiana is “identical” to the existing laws In several other states.
Xzamilio
@BJ McFrisky: Look, man, it’s easy to hurl insults at you, but since you have not hurled at me, I will not do so. But the point I was talking about was you stating that the law in Indiana is the same as the other 19 states with similar laws about religious liberties when such is not the case. This law reaches even further than those states and even the federal RFRA. And by the way, it is one thing to object to gay marriage and rights for LGBT individuals, and it is something completely different to discriminate and not do your job. Like I said before, I don’t think anyone requesting services from these people is asking them to support or even condone their life or choices. And if they choose to discriminate, then I choose to make sure people know that they discriminate and that they selectively impose their personal beliefs on others.
Giancarlo85
@BJ McFrisky: Wow. You’re a libertarian? You’re even more intellectually dishonest than I first thought. You come on here and you defend every republican imaginable. So what are people supposed to think?
And who is taking away freedom of speech? You’re so full of crap. Indiana’s RFRA is draconian. Period. It has nothing to do with protecting “freedom of religion or speech”. People can object all they want to same sex marriage, but this law is basically legalizing discrimination.
And even a poll done in Indiana show a majority are against it.
NJjoe
Ah. This is what I taking about in my post on Pence and didn’t scroll down.
@Giancarlo85: They always and will continue to play the victim? I couldn’t agree with you more. The people of Indiana voted this putz in should be asking themselves what are we getting? Spend, spend, spend is what the Republicans do best. Discrimnation in the name of religious freedom? How about the freedoms of the citizens of this country? Government is regressing rather moving forward… It is extremely disturbing.
It still blows my mind that Schock decorated his office to the “Downton Abbey,” at the expense of the taxpayer and private donation. I tend to think it was more of the taxpayer footing the bill. Elaborate trips with his male companions at expense oftaxpayers. Spending! I know I got off topic since we’re talking about Pence and his insane law. Government is spiraling out of control and the Republicans lead the pack of hungry ratts…They’ll never see the difference of church and state.
BJ McFrisky
@Xzamilio: I agree wholeheartedly — let the public know if someone is practicing discriminatory actions, and let the market work as evolution does, allowing survival of the fittest. Businesses that discriminate won’t succeed. But let’s not embrace institutionalized bullying by regulating whom a business shall or shall not serve — it’s tantamount to the feds ordering a Jewish deli to serve bacon, or forcing a mosque to accept Hindus.
ps – Curious — what’s the meaning of your handle?
Xzamilio
@BJ McFrisky: Actually, it’s not even close to ordering a Jewish deli to serve bacon because Jewish delis already don’t serve bacon… it would be forcing them to do something that isn’t in their job description or to force them to serve something that they do not have. Last I checked, bakeries and floral shops sell cakes and flowers, so there is no conflict of interest. And as for that mosque business, religions have always had the exclusive right to discriminate with no legal recourse, so your argument is bad all around… sorry ’bout it.
As for my handle, it’s a combination of letters in my name. That’s all.