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Don Lemon Tonight
Religious Freedom or Discrimination?; Mental Health Screenings for Pilots Rare Globally; Indianapolis Star: "Fix This Now". Aired 10- 11p ET
Aired March 30, 2015 - 22:00 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
[22:00:00] CUOMO: And in the end, isn't belief in God about inclusion? Not exclusion? And about loving your fellow man?
I asked those questions because the answers that people provide to those questions will determine the outcome of the showdown in Indiana.
I'm Chris Cuomo. Have a good night and we'll see you in the morning on "NEW DAY."
DON LEMON, CNN ANCHOR: Got a few things I want to get off my chest before we start this show. Over the last hour and over the last few days, really, we've heard a lot of people arguing back and forth about the religious protection law in Indiana, whether it's discriminatory.
Let's be honest. To say that this law is not discriminatory is disingenuous at the very least. The law doesn't protect religious freedom. It allows someone the ability to impose their religious views onto someone else. And as someone who was raised in the Christian tradition, I don't know about you, but I was taught to offer love instead of condemnation. Love the sinner, hate the sin.
It should be made clear that the Indiana, the Indiana House, had to the opportunity to include language that explicitly barred discrimination against the LGBT community. Democrats say they proposed it. And they say the Republicans declined. And now here we are.
What I am heartened by, though, are people, honest people all across this country who are vowing to pool their money and their business from Indiana unless they correct the legislation. The state stands to lose millions.
Someone who fought for civil rights for everyone said a long time ago that the arc of the moral universe is long, but it bends towards justice. Thank God for that and hallelujah.
This is CNN TONIGHT, I'm Don Lemon. We've got a lot to talk about. So let's get straight to it now.
CNN's Miguel Marquez is in Indianapolis with the very latest.
What is the latest, Miguel? MIGUEL MARQUEZ, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, the latest is the city
council here in Indianapolis has passed a resolution opposing SB 101 and the governor of the state is sort of doubling down in an opinion piece in the "Wall Street Journal" that he's penned. In part, he writes, "I want to make clear to Hoosiers and every American that despite what critics and many in the national media have asserted, the law is not a, quote, 'license to discriminate,' either in Indiana or elsewhere."
What he does not say in that op-ed or that opinion piece, though, is that he will change the law, much like his two colleagues in the House and the Senate here have said. Republicans have a super majority in both Houses of the legislature here. They could do it if they want. His counterparts have said they want to do it. But so far there is no clear path when they would or what it would look like -- Don.
LEMON: This goes far beyond that state. How are other states responding, Miguel?
MARQUEZ: Well, Connecticut and Washington stats have already responded harshly by cutting off all state travel to the state of Indiana. So that is done. And then mayors of big cities are starting to weigh in as well. Portland, Seattle, and San Francisco, similar situation, where they have said, no more travel to Indiana -- Don.
LEMON: All right. And what about the NCAA Finals, because that's where they're going to be played. There's been controversy about that -- Miguel.
MARQUEZ: Yes, they're coming up, the NCAA is based here, it's headquartered here as well. The Final Four is here. There is literally a full-court press against this bill. The NCAA expressing concern about the law with the final four coming up. There is concern that some people will not appreciate what Indiana has done. So I think there is -- there is a lot of pressure to do something before the Final Four, but talking to folks here in the legislature today, it doesn't seem possible to have anything -- a real fix under the bill before then -- Don.
LEMON: Miguel Marquez, thank you for your reporting.
Indiana's law is not the first to stir up controversy over religious freedom and discrimination.
CNN's Jean Casarez looks at other states, other laws like this around the country.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
JEAN CASAREZ, CNN LEGAL CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): It is not just Indiana. Guaranteed by the Constitution, freedom of religion. The right to believe and worship as you choose under your faith. And one by one, states have enacted Religious Freedom Restoration Acts, but why aren't they as hotly contested as Indiana's law?
ALAN DERSHOWITZ, HARVARD LAW SCHOOL EMERITUS PROFESSOR OF LAW: The statute has to be written in a way that appropriately balances genuine religious beliefs against bias and discrimination.
CASAREZ: The Texas law on this says exercise of religion must be motivated by sincere religious belief. In 2014, an Orthodox Jewish congregation used a home in North Dallas for services, saying it was their right under state law. The suit is ongoing.
South Carolina's Religious Freedom Act is said to be comparable to Indiana's. And different from the vast majority of other state laws in this area. It allows for a person exercising their freedom of religion to not only be an individual, but also a business entity.
[22:05:05] Some believe the intent of these broad laws on religious freedom are actually to discriminate against same-sex unions.
DERSHOWITZ: It allows anybody -- corporation, individual -- to say, my religion prohibits me to have anything to do with gay couples. And therefore I refuse to sell them flowers, have them seated in our restaurant, et cetera. That's unacceptable.
CASAREZ: Arkansas is also considering a version of the law. Their governor saying he'll sign it. Critics say it is too broad and similar to Indiana.
And what started it all? The Religious Freedom Restoration Act of 1993, signed into law by President Bill Clinton after a Native American man was denied unemployment for using peyote, the hallucinogenic, as part of a religious ritual.
BILL CLINTON, FORMER PRESIDENT: We all have a shared desire here to protect perhaps the most precious of all American liberty.
CASAREZ: Twenty-one states now have laws on the books prohibiting discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation. Indiana does not.
DERSHOWITZ: So it can be used for good, it can be used for bad, but if you couple it with anti-discrimination laws, then it's going to be used mostly for good.
CASAREZ: That constitutional expert say would be the answer for Indiana.
Jean Casarez, CNN, New York.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
LEMON: Thank you, Jean.
Before he wrote his op-ed today, insisting the new law is not a license to discriminate, Governor Mike pence refused to answer at least six yes or no questions about the law from George Stephanopoulos on ABC's "THIS WEEK" on Sunday. Listen.
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