Chicago-based rock band Wilco has canceled a show planned for May 7 in Indianapolis, Indiana, because of the anti-gay "religious freedom" bill signed into law by Gov. Mike Pence (R) last week.
The band tweeted Monday that they wouldn't perform in the state, saying the Religious Freedom Restoration Act "feels like thinly disguised legal discrimination":
The band is not the first group to speak out against the law, which would allow any individual or corporation to cite its religious beliefs as a defense when sued by a private party. Both the NCAA -- which is holding its men's basketball championship games in Indianapolis -- and the NBA have spoken out in favor of "inclusion" since Pence signed the bill into law. Several college presidents have also raised concerns over the law.
The mayors of both Seattle and San Francisco have said they won't allow taxpayer money to be used for city employees' trips to the state. On Monday, Connecticut Gov. Dan Malloy (D) said he would sign an executive order banning state-funded travel to Indiana because of the law.
Those who oppose the Religious Freedom Restoration Act have argued that it could hurt LGBT patrons by giving business owners who don't want to serve them legal protections to discriminate.
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