Despite being criticized by CEOs from Apple and Salesforce.com Inc., Indiana Governor Mike Pence says that criticism of the new state law is “shameless rhetoric.” Gay rights advocates and businesses have spoken out against the new law that people say allows for discriminations against gays. The Religious Freedom Restoration Act, which Pence signed Thursday, says that a person can’t be forced against his or her will to exercise his or her religion. People say that the law will allow businesses to discriminate against gays because the state doesn’t see them as a protected class.
Several CEOs have spoken out about the law, including Tim Cook from Apple and Marc Benioff from Salesforce. Angie’s List, a consumer-review website, pulled out a proposal to expand its headquarters in Indianapolis, just a few days before it was supposed to break ground. The expansion would have created about 1,000 jobs over five years.
