WaPo’s Marcus: ‘Lots of Other People Already Have’ Indiana’s Law

Washington Post columnist and editorial writer Ruth Marcus argued that “Indiana is getting dinged for passing a law that lots of other people already have because the context is different” in a discussion on Indiana’s Religious Freedom Restoration Act on Monday’s “Andrea Mitchell Reports” on MSNBC.

“In one sense, I feel a little bit sympathetic to Indiana, and before everybody gets worked up, let me explain why, which is, this law that was passed in Indiana, as I understand it, is the same as a federal law that’s been on the books for decades in response — but it was passed before the real issue was questions of civil rights and anti-discrimination protections for gays, and in particular, when the notion of same-sex marriage was — seemed some bizarre thing. So, Indiana is getting dinged for passing a law that lots of other people already have because the context is different” she stated.

Marcus also said that Indiana’s law is an example of “the next phase of the debate over the roll of sexuality and sexual orientation in society. So, the notion that same-sex marriage is here with us to stay, i think has become even before the supreme court final decision, kind of, if not totally accepted, broadly accepted. But the next frontiers here are going to be two things, one is the conflict with potential conflict with religious beliefs and the second is the bizarre fact that even though we’ve had a transformation in this country over the widespread acceptance, in many states, of same-sex marriage, we have not had the same transformation of our laws when it comes to basic anti-discrimination provisions. There is no federal law and in many states, no state law that prevents gays and lesbians from being discriminated against in jobs. You could be fired in many states, and under the federal civil rights law if you’re gay and in housing and in public accommodations. so this is the debate that Indiana is teeing up.”

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