Cuomo bans non-essential state-funded travel to IN

Gov. Andrew Cuomo has banned any non-essential state-sponsored travel to the state of Indiana in response to the recently passed Religious Freedom Restoration Act. Many believe the new Indiana law

News 12 Staff

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Apr 1, 2015, 1:07 AM

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Updated 3,557 days ago

Gov. Andrew Cuomo has banned any non-essential state-sponsored travel to the state of Indiana in response to the recently passed Religious Freedom Restoration Act.

Many believe the new Indiana law gives permission to discriminate.

Indiana Gov. Mike Pence said on Tuesday that the act is is being misinterpreted.

The measure protects Indiana businesses from lawsuits if they refuse service to customers based on religious values. Many believe that opens the door to discriminate against the LGBT community.

Judy Troilo is executive director of The Loft, a community services center for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender persons. Troilo says Indiana's new law infringes on everyone's rights.

"It allows for people to hate under the guise of religious freedom, and I think it's ironic that the word freedom is in this law," she says.

A host of celebrities, businesses and organizations have also spoken out against the law. Some have said they will boycott Indiana as long as the act remains unchanged.