article_snippet: a man had just gotten to a point of feeling accepted when the Indiana state legislature passed the Religious Freedom Act.
article_snippet: He and others contend that because Indiana, unlike other states, has no statewide law protecting gays and lesbians from discrimination, the law is a license to discriminate.
article_snippet: This is shameful for Indiana.
article_snippet: Indiana isn't the first state to establish the law," Samson said.
article_snippet: It's nothing new for the U.S. and the state of Indiana.
article_snippet: Samson is right that Indiana isn't the first state to adopt a religious freedom law, but the situation is a little more complicated than that.
article_snippet: Indiana is the 20th state to adopt a "religious freedom restoration" law.
article_snippet: In the past, religious freedom laws were enacted with broad support.
article_snippet: Many were passed before the recent movement for gay rights and before the majority of states came to recognize same-sex marriage.
article_snippet: Indiana recognized gay marriage last October.
highlights_snippet: Transgender 20-something says Indiana's new feels like legalized discrimination .
  