Indiana state Sen. Travis Holdman, on Jan. 7, presented a measure meant to be an alternative to the Senate Republicans' widely criticized bill based on sexual orientation and gender identity, IndyStar.com noted.
Senate Bill 344 would extend protections to gays and lesbiansbut would exclude the transgender demographic. Instead, the measure would assign a committee to study anti-trans discrimination.
In 2015, Holdman submitted Senate Bill 100, which proposed balancing LGBT rights with religious libertybut neither side was satisfied with it.
In a statement, Freedom Indiana said, "This bill is a non-starter that offers zero protections for transgender people in Indiana.
"Both SB344 and SB100 represent complicated attempts to cure a problem that requires a very simple solution. Gay and transgender people should not be subjected to legal discrimination in our state. The civil rights law should be updated to reflect that commitment and make it clear that we are an open, welcoming place to live, work and play."
The IndyStar.com item is at www.indystar.com/story/news/politics/2016/01/07/lawmaker-proposes-alternative-civil-rights-bill/78403942/ .
Freedom Indiana statement on Senate Bill 344:
INDIANAPOLIS — Freedom Indiana, the statewide grassroots organization fighting to update existing Indiana laws against discrimination to include gay and transgender Hoosiers, issued the following statement concerning Senate Bill 344, a new proposal being offered today as an alternative to Senate Bill 100, which was originally introduced on Organization Day. Both pieces of legislation allegedly aim to protect LGBT people in Indiana.
"This bill is a non-starter that offers zero protections for transgender people in Indiana.
"Both SB344 and SB100 represent complicated attempts to cure a problem that requires a very simple solution. Gay and transgender people should not be subjected to legal discrimination in our state. The civil rights law should be updated to reflect that commitment and make it clear that we are an open, welcoming place to live, work and play. The more lawmakers try to dance around the need for real, clear LGBT protections, the more it looks like they want a way to maintain the status quo: a state where you can be fired, denied housing or turned away from public places because of who you are or whom you love."
Read SB344 here: iga.in.gov/legislative/2016/bills/senate/344 .