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Last active August 29, 2015 14:17
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On Indiana's Passing of a "Religious Freedom" Law
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indiana_doing_it_wrong.md

How sad it is, in the year 2015, to see a law passed in the United States that legalizes discrimination by religion, sexual orientation, or any other factor. This is a big step backwards for Indiana, a state already saddled with a tragic history of racism and klansmanship. While many of us are focused on brightening our shared future — a mission that calls us to highlight our similarities and embrace our differences – others remain to drive wedges between us, fearful of a future that doesn't recognize their privilege, afraid that progress may call past lives of prejudice into question.

I am a proponent of religious freedom. I am not, however, willing to accept as a religious "belief" anything that allows for discrimination and violence, physical or psychological, toward non-believers. For millennia such beliefs have only lead to hatred and war, and they still do today.

Indiana is 84% White and 80% Christian. The state legislature is 80% male. It is likely that the majority of these individuals have not experienced discrimination, let alone systemic discrimination by race, religion, or sexual orientation. Had they, or their representatives, they would not have been as eager to invite its ugliness back into their state.

I'm pleased to see so many people, organizations, and businesses stand up and boycott Indiana. I hope the NCAA does the right thing and moves or cancels the tournament. The International Olympic Committee had a chance to act in 2013 when Putin signed an anti-gay bill into Russian law. They did nothing, despite the fact that the Olympic Charter denounces all forms of discrimination. For the sake of its students and fans, I hope the NCAA does better.

Resources:

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