Indiana religious law under fire from celebs, NCAA

Indiana Gov. Mike Pence is coming under fire after signing into law a controversial religious freedoms bill that could allow businesses to refuse service to gays.

Pence met immediate opposition for his decision from LGBT rights groups, celebrities and even the NCAA.

“We are especially concerned about how this legislation could affect our student-athletes and employees,” NCAA President Mark Emmert said Thursday in a statement.

CNN reported the NCAA has been “fretting” ahead of next week’s Final Four in Indianapolis.

Salesforce CEO Marc Benioff was very quick to the decision Thursday to pull business from Indiana.

Gamer convention Gen Con and the Disciples of Christ church group have threatened to pull their conventions from the Indiana capital, CNN reports.

The Gamer Con removal effort is led by Star Trek alum George Takei, who posted on his Facebook shortly after the new law was announced.

“Such laws harken back to a time where our society was divided, and people of color were banned from white establishments,” Takei wrote. The convention attracts 120,000 attendees to Indianapolis hotels and restaurants.

Singer and actress Miley Cyrus spoke out against the bill by posting on Instagram. “You’re an a—hole @govpenceIN,” she said, “We need more strong heterosexual men fighting for equality in both men and women!”

Actors Ashton Kutcher and James Van Der Beek also chimed in on Twitter.

Proponents argue the bill doesn’t target LGBT people directly, but it protects businesses that don’t support same-sex marriage from having to provide services for ceremonies.

Contact Kristen DeSilva at 702-477-3895 or kdesilva@reviewjournal.com. Find her on Twitter: @kristendesilva