© 2026 ABC News

The NBA and WNBA -- along with the Pacers and Fever franchises, which play home games in the state -- also issued a statement.

“The game of basketball is grounded in long established principles of inclusion and mutual respect. We will continue to ensure that all fans, players and employees feel welcome at all NBA and WNBA events in Indiana and elsewhere,” the statement read.

The Twitter hashtag #boycottindiana drew viral attention in recent days, and figures such as Hillary Clinton called the law “sad.” Internet giant Angie’s List canceled a $40 million expansion project in Indiana.

Tim Cook, Apple’s CEO, wrote an op-ed article for The Washington Post about the measure and similar efforts in other states.

“There’s something very dangerous happening in states across the country,” he wrote.

“These bills rationalize injustice by pretending to defend something many of us hold dear,\" Cook added. \"They go against the very principles our nation was founded on, and they have the potential to undo decades of progress toward greater equality.”

Organizers of at least two major conventions have also expressed concern. Adrian Swartout, the CEO of the 50,000-person Gen Con gamers' convention, said the measure could affect the group's decision to hold the major event in Indianapolis past 2020. He said it would have a \"a direct negative impact on the state's economy.\"

Leaders of Disciples of Christ, a 400,000-person denomination based in Indianapolis, also said the situation could affect future commitments.

\"We are particularly distressed at the thought that, should [the bill] be signed into law, some of our members and friends might not be welcome in Indiana businesses -- might experience legally sanctioned bias and rejection once so common on the basis of race,\" they said in the letter.

Supporters say discrimination concerns are overblown because the law -- which would take effect in July -- is modeled after a federal religious freedom law Congress passed in 1993 and similar laws are on the books in 19 states. However, the current political climate is far different than it was when most of those were approved because the U.S. Supreme Court is expected to rule this year on whether gay marriage bans violate the Constitution.

Conservative groups say the Indiana measure merely seeks to prevent the government from compelling people to provide such things as catering or photography for same-sex weddings or other activities they find objectionable on religious grounds.

Some business owners such as leather worker Casey Sampson say the law protects their religious beliefs.

“One example would be if someone came in here and wanted a belt that said, ‘Satan is Great.’ That is not something that we believe in,” Sampson said.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

","canonicalUrl":"https://abcnews.com/US/indiana-religious-freedom-law-scrutinized-ahead-final/story?id=30000424","legacySlug":"/news/story/indiana-religious-freedom-law-scrutinized-ahead-final-30000424","noIndexNoFollow":false},"publishTime":"08:37","publishDate":"03-30-2015","updatedTime":"12:23","updatedDate":"03-30-2015","socialImage":{"alt":"Workers at Lucas Oil Stadium install the court in Indianapolis, March 27, 2015.","credit":"Michael Conroy/AP Photo","ratio":"16x9","url":"https://s.abcnews.com/images/US/AP_FINAL_FOUR_150330_DG_16x9_1600.jpg","width":992,"height":558},"datePublished":"3/30/2015 08:37:00 GMT","video":{"live":false,"id":30000424,"headline":"AC","mediaAssetTitle":"GOOD_INDIANA_FINAL_FOUR_150330","description":"Critics say law could allow businesses to turn away gay and lesbian customers.","duration":"2:44","posterImg":{"url":"https://s.abcnews.com/images/GMA/default-img-undefined.png","width":608,"height":342},"video":{"feed":"https://service-pkgabcnews.akamaized.net/opp/hls/abcnews/i/abcnews/2015/03/150330_gma_benitez_705_,500,800,1200,1800,2500,3200,4500,.mp4.csmil/playlist.m3u8"},"playlist":["29953609","29979438","29956874"]},"relatedItems":[{"contentType":"story","date":"March 29, 2015","headline":"'This Week' Transcript: Former Maryland Governor Martin O'Malley","section":"news","slug":"/news/story/week-transcript-maryland-governor-martin-omalley-29953609","id":29953609,"image":{"alt":"'This Week' Transcript: Former Maryland Governor Martin O'Malley","url":"https://s.abcnews.com/images/Politics/gty_martin_omalley_kb_150326_4x3t_240.jpg","credit":"Brendan Smialowski/AFP/Getty Images","ratio":"1x1"}},{"contentType":"story","date":"March 29, 2015","headline":"Seattle Mayor Bans Travel to Indiana Over 'Religious Freedom'","section":"news","slug":"/news/story/seattle-mayor-prohibits-city-employees-traveling-indiana-29979438","id":29979438,"image":{"alt":"Seattle Mayor Bans Travel to Indiana Over 'Religious Freedom'","url":"https://s.abcnews.com/images/US/ap_indiana_protest_150328_4x3t_240.jpg","credit":"Rick Callahan/AP Photo","ratio":"1x1"}},{"contentType":"story","date":"March 27, 2015","headline":"Apple CEO Tim Cook Opposes Indiana 'Religious Freedom' Law","section":"news","slug":"/news/story/apple-ceo-tim-cook-business-leaders-oppose-indiana-29956874","id":29956874,"image":{"alt":"Apple CEO Tim Cook Opposes Indiana 'Religious Freedom' Law","url":"https://s.abcnews.com/images/Business/rtr_tim_cook_apple_jc_150327_4x3t_240.jpg","credit":"Lucy Nicholson/Reuters","ratio":"1x1"}}],"relatedContentSection":"news","schemaContent":{"name":"AC","description":"Critics say law could allow businesses to turn away gay and lesbian customers.","duration":"2:44","uploadDate":"03-30-2015","publication":"03-30-2015","images":"https://s.abcnews.com/images/GMA/default-img-undefined.png","url":"https://service-pkgabcnews.akamaized.net/opp/hls/abcnews/i/abcnews/2015/03/150330_gma_benitez_705_,500,800,1200,1800,2500,3200,4500,.mp4.csmil/playlist.m3u8","contentUrl":"https://service-pkgabcnews.akamaized.net/opp/hls/abcnews/i/abcnews/2015/03/150330_gma_benitez_705_,500,800,1200,1800,2500,3200,4500,.mp4.csmil/playlist.m3u8","link":"https://www.goodmorningamerica.com/news/story/indiana-religious-freedom-law-scrutinized-ahead-final-30000424"}},"playlist":[{"id":"132281378","contentType":"story","section":"news"},{"id":"132283010","contentType":"story","section":"news"},{"id":"132273278","contentType":"story","section":"news"},{"id":"132231169","contentType":"story","section":"news"},{"id":"132206748","contentType":"story","section":"news"},{"id":"132200241","contentType":"story","section":"news"},{"id":"132054443","contentType":"story","section":"news"},{"id":"132054798","contentType":"story","section":"news"},{"id":"132033010","contentType":"story","section":"news"},{"id":"131912713","contentType":"story","section":"news"},{"id":"131830583","contentType":"story","section":"news"},{"id":"131834976","contentType":"story","section":"news"},{"id":"131554765","contentType":"story","section":"news"},{"id":"131554815","contentType":"story","section":"news"},{"id":"131543053","contentType":"story","section":"news"},{"id":"131432442","contentType":"story","section":"news"},{"id":"131121474","contentType":"story","section":"news"},{"id":"131247079","contentType":"story","section":"news"},{"id":"131228784","contentType":"story","section":"news"},{"id":"131178806","contentType":"story","section":"news"}],"kvps":{"pgtyp":"article","lang":"en","sp":"goodmorningamerica","programmatic":"true","bundleId":"com.abcnews"}},"analytics":{"accountID":"wdgnewwdgnewgmaweb","ns":"gma","pageName":"gma:news:video","pageType":"video","globalSpecVersion":"v1.08","siteDifferentiator":"gma:site","tagID":"g_page01","userABCookie":"0","section":"news","title":"AC","pubTime":"04:37","pubDate":"03-30-2015","modTime":"08:23","modDate":"03-30-2015","taxonomyTags":"none","id":30000424,"editorialOtherSubjects":"","wordCount":"none","columns":"none","authors":"","authorsUnit":"none","authorsBureau":"none","subBrand":"Good Morning America","provider":"Good Morning America","videoName":"AC","mediaAssetTitle":"GOOD_INDIANA_FINAL_FOUR_150330","videoId":30000424,"mediaOnPage":"video","legacySlug":"/news/story/indiana-religious-freedom-law-scrutinized-ahead-final-30000424"},"taboola":{}},"request":{"headers":{},"httpVersion":"1.1","method":"GET","url":"/video/30000424","vary":{"host":"www.goodmorningamerica.com","cached":true,"path":"/video/30000424","forwarded-proto":"https","device":"desktop","userab":"0"}},"viewport":{"width":1260,"height":0},"user":{}};