Jindal defends Indiana’s religious freedom law

Louisiana Gov. Bobby Jindal (R) argued Sunday that Indiana’s controversial religious freedom law would not allow restaurants to turn away gay customers — though they could refuse to cater their weddings.

{mosads}Jindal, who has floated a 2016 presidential run, said businesses should not be “forced to participate” in gay weddings if it violates their beliefs.

“I’m not saying a restaurant should be able to turn away people who want to come in and eat there,” Jindal said on NBC’s “Meet the Press.”

“I don’t think the government should be able to force somebody to contradict their own sincerely religious beliefs to participate in wedding ceremonies,” he said.

The religious freedom law signed by Indiana Gov. Mike Pence (R) last week stirred a national uproar, prompting the governor to quickly seek changes to the legislation to clarify that businesses could not discriminate against people who are gay.

Jindal fought back against those claims from lawmakers and activists around the country.

“We’re not talking about restaurants denying services to people who want to come and have diner. We’re not talking about routine, day-to-day transactions,” said Jindal, who has long opposed gay marriage based on his own religious beliefs.