US state changes law discrimiting against gays

Washington, April 3: The India state’s House of Representatives has announced that it will amend the state’s controversial law on religious freedom, which has engendered much criticism for allowing discrimition against homosexuals. The head of the lower house, Republican Brian Bosma, said on Thursday he wanted to make it “very clear” that the law permitted no leeway to “allow discrimition”, Efe news agency reported. India Governor Mike Pence, also a Republican, last week signed the law giving free rein to the state’s businesses to prohibit entry or deny service to homosexual couples in the me of “religious freedom”. The legislation sparked a huge controversy and unleashed criticism not only from gay rights defence groups but also from businessmen, Republican and Democratic politicians and even the White House. Bosma refuted those criticisms on Thursday and, although he did not specify what changes would be made to the law, said that the text would reflect the fact that India valued everyone, including gays, heterosexuals, blacks, whites, religious believers and non-believers. (IANS)