Indiana religious law gets a protest album

An Indiana record label on Thursday announced it would release a music compilation protesting the controversial religious freedom law in the Hoosier State.

The Indianapolis Star reported that Joyful Noise Recordings would issue “50 Bands & a Cat for Indiana Equality” in response to the state’s Religious Freedom Restoration Act (RFRA). Proceeds from the album will be used to promote gay rights in Indiana.

“RFRA was very disheartening to those of us who have worked to make Indianapolis a culturally relevant city,” said Joyful Noise founder Karl Hofstetter.

{mosads}“The bill so entirely misrepresents everyone I know and love in this state,” he added. “I felt like we had to do something to support our local community and show the outside world that this is not who we are.”

The recording will feature 51 songs from bands troubled by the law’s passage late last month, including Godspeed You Black Emperor, Of Montreal and Sonic Youth vocalist Thurston Moore.

Hofstetter said 100 percent of the album’s profits will go to Indiana equality groups, including Freedom Indiana, the ACLU of Indiana and Indy Pride.

Indiana Gov. Mike Pence (R) first signed the contentious law on March 26. It immediately spawned a national backlash from critics who said it would allow businesses to discriminate based on gender and sexual identity.

After the outcry, Pence asked the Legislature to alter the bill, and he signed the changes into law on April 2. The final version forbids business discrimination against gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender individuals. It is also no longer a legal defense for alleged discrimination against such protected groups.

Advocates of the law argue it shields business owners from government meddling in their faith-based decisions.