Louisiana Gov. Bobby Jindal is getting blowback for his support for his state's Marriage and Conscience Act, which he touted in a New York Times op-ed yesterday, in the form of a new ad from LGBT rights group Truth Wins Out.
"Jindal is supporting an Indiana-like 'license to discriminate' bill," says the 30-second spot, released today. "The same bill that outraged corporate America, threatened tourism, and caused real financial damage in Indianapolis."
The Marriage and Conscience Act, pending in Louisiana's legislature, would prevent governmental bodies from penalizing a business, nonprofit group, or individual for expressing a deeply held religious or moral view about marriage. Jindal, in his Times column, claimed the bill "does not, as opponents assert, create a right to discriminate against, or generally refuse service to, gay men or lesbians." But he argued for it by saying, "Why shouldn't an individual or business have the right to cite, in a court proceeding, religious liberty as a reason for not participating in a same-sex marriage ceremony that violates a sincerely held religious belief?" He also denounced corporate leaders for "bullying" Indiana and Arkansas lawmakers into amending similar legislation to assure that it could not be used to discriminate.
The Truth Wins out ad (watch below) contends that Jindal is putting the economic health of Louisiana at risk by supporting the Marriage and Conscience Act, all in an attempt to win support from social conservatives should he decide to seek the Republican presidential nomination.
Truth Wins Out also urges its members and supporters to contact Jindal's office and Louisiana's assistant secretary of tourism, Kyle Edmiston, to voice concerns about the bill. Find contact information here.