Indiana promises to change 'freedom' law

Mike Pence, Indiana's Republican Governor, acknowledged that the law created a "perception" his state was hostile to gay people. Photo / AP

The Governor of Indiana has caved in to national criticism and promised to revise a controversial law that some say discriminates against gay people.

The law, which appears to allow businesses to turn away homosexual customers if the owner has a religious objection, has brought condemnation from gay rights groups and corporate giants such as Apple since it was signed last week. While Jeb Bush and other leading Republican presidential candidates have defended the law, it has led to a storm of criticism that rocked a Midwestern state not used to national controversy.

Appearing emotional as he spoke to the press, Mike Pence, Indiana's Republican Governor, acknowledged that the law created a "perception" his state was hostile to gay people.

"I believe in my heart of hearts that no one should be harassed or mistreated because of who they are, who they love, or what they believe," Pence said. "But as I said, we've got a perception problem here because some people have a different view. And we intend to correct that."

Pence said he wanted legislation by the end of the week that "makes it clear that this law does not give businesses the right to deny services to anyone".

The law, known as the Religious Freedom Restoration Act, allows businesses "the free exercise of religion". It passed in the wake of several recent cases in the US where bakeries and photography businesses have faced prosecution or civil lawsuits after refusing to take part in same-sex weddings, angering religious conservatives.

Critics have said that the Indiana law would go further and could in theory allow a restaurant owner to refuse to seat a gay couple if they were opposed to homosexuality. Pence signed the original bill at a small ceremony joined by several conservative activists accused of making derogatory comments about gay people. One of the activists invited by Pence said homosexuality was "treatable" and supports so-called "therapy" sessions intended to change sexual orientation.

While same-sex marriage is becoming increasingly accepted in the US - it is now legal in 37 of the country's 50 states - it remains a controversial issue among the conservative voters who will help decide which Republican leads the party into the 2016 presidential election.

Bush, who is opposed to same-sex marriage, said he thought Pence had "done the right thing" by signing the bill into law. "I think once the facts are established, people aren't going to see this as discriminatory at all," he added. Other Republican contenders, including Ted Cruz and Marco Rubio, echoed his sentiment in comments made before Pence announced he was altering the law.

- Telegraph Group Ltd