The passing of SB101 in Indiana has caused national outrage this week. Corporations like the NCAA, Apple, Salesforce, Angie's List, and more have pulled expansion projects and expressed their outrage over the bill. George Takei encouraged his followers to stop buying Indiana products, starting the hashtag, #boycottindiana. Even the city of San Francisco and the state of Connecticut are banning all government funded travel to Indiana.
Now, artists and performers are figuring out how to approach their tour dates in the state, suggesting they may cancel their dates or, as in the case of Audra McDonald, give all of their Indianapolis date sales to a LGBT charity. Wilco is one of the frontrunners in the music industry's backlash against Indiana's RFRA, canceling their May 7th tour date in Indianapolis.
Wilco released the following statement on their Facebook page earlier today:
"We are canceling our May 7 show at the Murat in Indianapolis. The “Indiana Religious Freedom Restoration Act” feels like thinly disguised legal discrimination to us. Hope to get back to the Hoosier State someday soon, when this odious measure is repealed. Refunds available at point of purchase."
While 19 other states have an RFRA, Indiana does not have sexual orientation as a protected class and allows business to exercise rights as individuals. And while LGBT rights are the main concerns surrounding the bill, the bill's broad language can lead to more discrimination. Hoosiers can only hope the State government will repeal this bill before the economic backlash becomes too great. But for now, as a Hoosier, I say "Rock on, Wilco."