Indiana Gov. signs "religious freedom" bill into law

I've always thought that if we have anti-discrimination practices/laws in place, businesses that choose to violate those practices and laws should forfeit all tax breaks and state-sanctioned assistance provided to businesses. And honestly, I feel similarly about churches and non-profits. Assuming the law was written carefully, I would favor offering no benefits/tax breaks to an institution found to discriminate against protected groups.

Of course...the Indiana problem would still exist because LGBTQ* people are not a protected group under the law.

 

http://www.uniquecollegetshirts.com/images/products/indianafight.jpg

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/d/d5/Hoosier_Cabinet.JPG

 

Arkansas governor sends religious freedom bill back to legislators - CNN.com

 

If a newspaper columnist's conscience tells him he must honor the boycott of Indiana, in response to this ant-gay law, and informs his sports editor that he refuses to travel to Indianapolis to cover the Final Four, should their be any punishment, or should his employer honor his wishes?

 

It could be cool hook for columnist. He could write from the TV and explain why he's writing from the TV. Could make for a nice series of columns IMHO.

I'd love to see outlets all over the country boycott the Final Four. Let the Indianapolis AP bureau cover it for everyone.

 

OK, sure.

But, the newspaper could also decide to fire the guy, and he should have no legal protection against being fired over his stand, right? (Leaving collectively bargained union rights aside for the moment.)

 

Yes, there should be punishment.

He should be made to cover the next local MLS team's game.

 

Well, sure, that's why you need collectively bargained Union contract.

 

Reporters and columnists have been known to refuse assignments on a regular basis and it normally doesn't rise to a firing offense.

I've personally refused Sunday assignments for religious reasons and still employed, at last check.

 

You'd think that guy would be smart enough to see through the misinformation of the liberal witch hunt.

 

Sure, but if Mark2010 refused an assignment to cover a gay marriage of two prominent people, we'd condemn him, right?

We'd say he is a bigot, and should be fired for refusing such an assignment, right?

Is it the event and the circumstances that makes the difference, or should a person be allowed to refuse an assignment based on his own personal conscience/religion?

 

Definitely should be punishment, up to firing. As someone said earlier in this thread, there has to be a price for following your convictions.