Indiana 'Religious Freedom' Law Triggers Fury

Indiana is defying calls for a boycott after it passed a law that critics say would allow businesses to refuse to serve gay people on religious grounds.

On Friday, Governor Mike Pence again defended Senate Bill 101, a day after he signed it at a private ceremony attended by Catholic nuns, orthodox Jews and social-conservative lobbyists.

His office spoke out as a similar bill cleared the state Senate in Arkansas, whose governor has indicated he will approve the measure.

Other US states have adopted similar laws making it illegal for the federal government to infringe on individual freedom of religion.

Indiana's Republican governor insists the law, which takes effect on 1 July, is not discriminatory and makes no mention of gays or lesbians.

"It is vitally important to protect religious freedom in Indiana," he said in a statement.

But activists say the law is revenge after a failed bid last year to weave a gay marriage ban into the Midwestern state's constitution.

Sarah Warbelow, legal director of the Human Rights Campaign, said: "They've basically said, as long as your religion tells you to, it's OK to discriminate against people."

The Indiana Chamber of Commerce said the law was "entirely unnecessary".

Cloud computer giant Salesforce said it was cancelling all business in Indiana.

The world’s biggest gaming convention, Gen Con, is threatening to stop holding its event in Indianapolis.

Apple chief executive Tim Cook, who came out as gay last year, said he was "deeply disappointed" in the law.

Perhaps most alarmingly for the basketball-mad Hoosier state, the National Collegiate Athletic Association said it is "especially concerned" by the law.

The organisation is due to stage the US men's college basketball finals next week in Indianapolis.

Celebrities are also taking to social media to pillory the law.

Actor Ashton Kutcher compared it to anti-Semitism, Star Trek star George Takei urging a state boycott and rapper MC Hammer labelled the bill "barbaric and inhumane".

The mayor of San Francisco said the city would not use taxpayer money to fund any city employees' trips to Indiana.

Gay marriage is now recognised in 37 states after the US Supreme Court ruled two years ago that federal law could not discriminate against married same-sex couples.