article_snippet: The bill, signed into law by Indiana Gov. Mike Pence, has the effect of giving individuals legal cover to refuse a customer's business if a customer's business would violate a religious belief to fulfill the request.
article_snippet: Civil rights groups are characterizing the religious freedom law as discriminatory, particularly against LGBT persons, and Republican lawmakers in the state today said Civil rights groups'd be open to clarifying The bill, signed into law by Indiana Gov. Mike Pence's intent through legislative changes.
article_snippet: Critics say a controversial religious freedom bill recently signed by Governor Mike Pence would promote discrimination against individuals based on sexual orientation .
article_snippet: The Religious Freedom Restoration Act states that 'a governmental entity may not substantially burden a person's exercise of religion, even if the burden results from a rule of general applicability' unless the government has a 'compelling' interest to do so and interference is the 'least restrictive means of furthering that compelling governmental interest.'
article_snippet: The Indiana law now under a microscope says that 'a governmental entity may not substantially burden a person's exercise of religion.'
article_snippet: The only exception to that rule is if the government can show that rule has a 'compelling' interest to interfere and that rule did so through 'the least restrictive means.'
article_snippet: Furthermore, it goes beyond protecting Indiana residents' interests from intrusion by the state - it gives Indiana residents' legal cover from threats to Indiana residents' religious freedom from private entities, as well.
article_snippet: Critics of the legislation claim the legislation legally allows businesses to refuse the business of gay couples.
article_snippet: A commonly cited example is that of a bakery that declines to take on the order for a wedding cake of a same-sex couple, citing religious grounds.
article_snippet: Gay rights activists say such discriminatory behavior would not be allowed under Indiana law as a result of the religious freedom bill.
article_snippet: Arkansasstats that 'governments should not substantially burden the free exercise of religion without compelling justification.'
highlights_snippet: Civil rights groups say the controversial religious freedom law is discriminatory against LGBT persons .
  