Even Without Pence, Indiana Is Still Racist and Homophobic

Apparently, the ghost of Michael Elizabeth Pence lives on in the Indiana state Senate, as they recently voted to amend a hate crimes proposal scrapping all protected characteristics, including gender identity, race and sexual orientation.

Just so you know, if you aren’t white, and you aren’t heterosexual, and someone should assault you because you aren’t those things, that’s not  Hate Crime in Indiana.

Governor Eric Holcomb, a Republican, because, of course, has said the amended bill "does not get Indiana off the list of states without a bias crime law" and says he will “continue to fight for the right ultimate outcome for our state and citizens this year so we’re not right back here in the same place next year” but hasn’t said whether or not he’ll sign the bill.

Just seven Republicans—including authors of the original bill, Senators Ron Alting and Sen. Mike Bohacek—joined the Democrats in voting against the amendment, but not one of the seven spoke out against it on the Senate floor because … Republicans.

In response, Senate Democrats walked out and didn't return to vote on any of the remaining bills on the calendar.

Democratic Senator Greg Taylor:

"You don’t have to agree with how somebody lives to respect their ability to live freely and responsibly in this state. But when you take that ability away, knowing that they have been targeted, it is a shame, and this is a disaster for the state of Indiana. It might be worse than [Pence’s beloved] RFRA."

Senate President Pro Tempore, and Republican, Rodric Bray, defended the amended bill:

"This conversation has always been philosophical. Do you include a list in which you can maybe leave somebody off, or the court could interpret somebody not included in that, or do you make it more general so that everybody can be included?"

He’s arguing that excluding people from a Hate Crimes legislation—people of color, LGBTQ people—actually means they are more protected.

Seriously.

Democrat Senator J.D. Ford, the first openly gay senator in the state, says this amendment would tell people like him that they don't exist. And Democrat Senator Lonnie Randolph, an African-American lawmaker, asked his colleagues:

"Why don’t you recognize us?”

Possibly because they’re Republicans and they have never recognized black people, or LGBTQ people. I mean, listen to what state Senator Jim Merritt, one of the Republicans who voted against the amendment said:

"I will tell you, early in my career, we were in this room with a 10-hour discussion and I voted against it. I think through the years Indiana has changed. I think I’ve learned and I’ve evolved. I know my constituents have. You always think about what your constituents want you to do."

And yet he still plans to vote for the bill.

This is what’s wrong with the GOP; out of one side of their mouths they seem to say positive things, but when the time comes to act, to vote, they turn tail and run back to the party platform of racism and anti-LGBTQ bias.

Seriously, Indiana? You got Pence outta so you can no longer blame your bigotry and homophobia on him.

It’s you, and the people you elect to represent you.

IndyStar