After public pressure all the way up to the White House, the governors of Indiana and Arkansas realized the implications of a recent "religious freedom" law allowing discrimination against the LGBT community. This law triggered letters by hospitality leaders, including Starwood Hotels and Resorts CEO to take a stand urging both governors to veto the law.
Today changes were implemented. The changes would prohibit businesses from using the law as a defense in court for refusing "to offer or provide services, facilities, use of public accommodations, goods, employment, or housing" to any customers based on "race, color, religion, ancestry, age, national origin, disability, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, or United States military service."
It doesn't accomplish what the law's critics wanted most: Adding sexual orientation to the list of categories protected by Indiana's anti-discrimination law.
In the meantime junior Republican Senator from Arkansas Tom Cotton made headlines when he may have thought it could be a crime of being gay in the Unted States. In a CNN media interview he said: "In Iran they hang you for the crime of being gay."
Thomas Bryant "Tom" Cotton is the United States Senator from Arkansas. He was a member of the United States House of Representatives, representing Arkansas's 4th congressional district from 2013 until 2015
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