Indiana became the most recent state to enact an expansion of the 1993 federal Religious Freedom Restoration Act at the state level. In many instances, the reasoning behind such state legislation is rooted in concern for religious freedom of its diverse communities. In Pennsylvania, for example, it ensures that members of Amish communities can still travel on roadways in horse-drawn buggies.
But the recent surge in state legislation being rammed through on the heels of the Supreme Court decision in the Hobby Lobby case show that opportunists with wealth and a narrow ideology are taking advantage of the shifting landscape in an attempt to create a world more in line with their moral views on “gay rights.”
Indiana is now in the spotlight as Governor Mike Pence signed the bill into law, which will allow business owners to deny services to gays and lesbians for religious reasons.
Immediately following the bill signing, which was done in a private ceremony closed to both the public and the media, a wide range of celebrites and corporations issued statements denouncing the passage of the bill…including SalesForce and Eli Lilly whose economic impact on the state is considerable.
However, conspiculous by their absence in the rush to condemn the passage of the law is the NFL, a multi-billion dollar juggernaut who as recently as last year had been vocal in their opposition of such legislation.
When a similar bill in Arizona hit the desk of Govenor Jan Brewer in 2014, the NFL released the following statement:
“Our policies emphasize tolerance and inclusiveness, and prohibit discrimination based on age, gender, race, religion, sexual orientation or any other improper standard. We are following the issue in Arizona and will continue to do so should the bill be signed into law, but will decline further comment at this time.”
Soon after issuing that statement, Govenor Brewer vetoed the bill citing that it “could result in unintended and negative consequences.”
It should be noted that the NFL had previously shown it’s commitment to fighting aganst discrimination in 1993 when it moved the Super Bowl from Tempe, Arizona to the Rose Bowl In California after state legislators refused to acknowledge the Martin Luther King Jr. holiday.
Now, just one year later, the NFL has remained silent on the passage of the law in Indiana.
Considering that Indiana is home to the annual NFL Combine and the Colts franchise whose stadium has hosted two recent Super Bowls, it is mind boggling that they are seemingly unconcerned with the potential discrimination of it’s employees, or the blowback it will recieve from fans and advertisers.
Perhaps the NFL, which has often been criticized for becoming the “No Fun League” in recent years has decided that it can withstand the pressure of being viewed as the “No Freedom League.”
