Effort fails to add protections for same-sex couples to religious freedom bill

This story was originally published on Feb. 23, 2015.

Senate Republicans rebuffed an effort by Democrats on Monday to add protections for same-sex couples to a controversial "religious freedom" bill.

Senate Bill 101 is intended to increase legal protections for those with strongly held religious beliefs, but has raised new questions about the dividing line between discrimination and religious freedom.

Supporters say the legislation would offer legal protections to business owners who don't want to provide services for same-sex marriages. Critics say it would allow discrimination against gays and lesbians.

Minority Leader Tim Lanane, D-Anderson, proposed a change to the measure that would have prevented the measure from overriding state or local civil rights laws, including those in Indianapolis and other cities that prohibit discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation.

The bill's author, Sen. Scott Schneider, R-Indianapolis, argued that concerns about discrimination were overblown based on the experiences of the 19 other states that have similar laws.

Lanane's amendment was shot down on a 10-40 party line vote. It was one of several shot down.

Another offered by Sen. Karen Tallian, D-Portage, would have required business owners who refuse to serve a class of people for religious reasons to post a sign saying so.

The Senate is expected to take a final vote on the measure before Wednesday, the deadline to send bills to the House.

Call Star reporter Tony Cook at (317) 444-6081. Follow him on Twitter: @indystartony.