Palm Springs Travel Ban Targets Indiana Law

Palm Springs city employees will be prohibited from publicly funded travel to Indiana in protest of that state’s recent enactment of a religious freedom law that some contend will lead to discrimination against same-sex couples, Mayor Steve Pougnet announced Thursday.

The City Council also plans to consider a resolution objecting to the law, and Pougnet said he would send a personal letter to the governor of Indiana expressing the city’s position.

“Indiana’s legislature and governor have recently enacted a law that is an affront to the residents of Palm Springs, one of the most tolerant and inclusive communities in our country,” the mayor said in a statement. “We will stand united to protect the civil rights of all Americans.”

He added: “Religious liberty must not become a government-approved excuse for discrimination.”

Indiana became the target of economic and political backlash in recent days, after Gov. Mike Pence signed into law the Religious Freedom Restoration Act, which critics said would allow businesses to refuse service to people based on their sexual orientation.

Thursday morning, top Republican lawmakers in Indiana announced their intent to add language to the law expressly prohibiting discrimination against members of the LGBT community, but it was not immediately clear whether the changes would be enough to tamp the wave of boycotts and criticism, including the latest moves by Palm Springs.

Here’s the full statement from Mayor Pougnet:

“The City of Palm Springs condemns unequivocally any form of discrimination. Indiana’s Legislature and Governor have recently enacted a law that is an affront to the residents of Palm Springs, one of the most tolerant and inclusive communities in our country. Palm Springs record supporting equality for everyone speaks for itself. We will stand united to protect the civil rights of all Americans.

“Effective immediately, the City of Palm Springs will prohibit any publically-funded travel by any City employee to the state of Indiana and I have asked the City Manager to agendize at our next Council meeting a formal resolution of objection to the Indiana law. Further, I will be sending the Governor of Indiana a personal letter tomorrow stating our position.

“We abhor discrimination in any form. Religious liberty must not become a government approved excuse for discrimination. I urge other cities, counties, and local governments throughout this nation to redouble their efforts to ensure that legislation of any kind does not leave the door open to individuals or businesses receiving a legal license to refuse service or otherwise discriminate against any of our residents.”

– City News Service contributed to this report.

(Image via Shutterstock)