BATON ROUGE — Gov. Bobby Jindal on Wednesday gave a full-throated defense of a religious-objections bill that critics say could sanction discrimination against same-sex couples in Louisiana.
The Republican governor, speaking to reporters in a wide-ranging interview, described the bill as an anti-discrimination measure designed to protect Christians who are morally opposed to same-sex marriage in an increasingly permissive society.
“Religious liberty is not just about the ability to pray a couple of hours a week,” said Jindal, who has presidential ambitions built on an appeal to evangelical Christians and social conservatives. “Religious liberty is about being able to live your life seven days a week according to your beliefs.”
As written, the Marriage and Conscience Act — a cornerstone of Jindal’s legislative agenda — would prohibit the state from denying any resident or business a license, benefits or tax deductions because of actions taken “in accordance with a religious belief or moral conviction” about marriage.
Jindal and the bill’s sponsor, Rep. Mike Johnson, R-Bossier City, say the measure would in no way condone discrimination against lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender couples. But what exactly the bill would accomplish is the subject of heated debated, with critics and some legal experts arguing the bill would allow discrimination should gay marriage become legal in Louisiana.
When asked how the proposed religious-objection law is any different from laws used to condone discrimination against black people on religious and moral grounds, Jindal said such comparisons were “offensive.”
Jindal raised the specter of Christian business owners who were threatened with fines for refusing to participate in same-sex weddings “in New York and … Western states” where gay marriage is allowed. Such businesses could include bakers, florists, wedding planners and photographers.
“These are people who were forced by their state to pay heavy fines or lose their business licenses,” he said, though he added that has not happened in Louisiana.