New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo has announced that he has banned publicly-funded, non-essential travel by state agencies to Indiana. The move comes as protest towards the state of Indiana's new Religious Freedom Restoration Act. The law would allow business owners in Indiana the right to deny service to LGBT people. From the Indiana General Assembly website

Religious freedom restoration. Prohibits a governmental entity from substantially burdening a person's exercise of religion, even if the burden results from a rule of general applicability, unless the governmental entity can demonstrate that the burden: (1) is in furtherance of a compelling governmental interest; and (2) is the least restrictive means of furthering the compelling governmental interest. Provides a procedure for remedying a violation. Specifies that the religious freedom law applies to the implementation or application of a law regardless of whether the state or any other governmental entity or official is a party to a proceeding implementing or applying the law. Prohibits an applicant, employee, or former employee from pursuing certain causes of action against a private employer.

Gov Cuomo said during a statement Tuesday

Today, I direct all agencies, departments, boards and commissions to immediately review all requests for state funded or state sponsored travel to the State of Indiana and to bar any such publicly funded travel that is not essential to the enforcement of state law or public health and safety. The ban on publicly funded travel shall take effect immediately.

Cuomo's backing of a travel ban is similar to those instituted by Washington State Gov. Jay Inslee and Connecticut Gov. Dan Malloy. A number of other politicians, as well as CEO's, celebrities, and other public figures have spoken out against Indiana's Religious Freedom Restoration Act. Some conservatives have defended the Act, saying that the law would stop the government from forcing individuals or businesses to doing things they object to on religious grounds.

 

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