Indiana has been the center of controversy this past month because the state’s governor signed the Religious Freedom Restoration Act. This act has been considered a double-edged sword by many individuals for and against the legislation. While it serves to protect an individual’s exercise of religion, it also exposes a demographic of people as possible targets of discrimination by allowing businesses to deny them service.

Many well-known organizations such as Apple, Subaru of America and Angie’s List have publicly denounced the bill. Even Republican Mayor of Indianapolis Greg Ballard advocated for inclusive protection of persons of different sexual orientations and gender identities. Gov. Pence, however, has consistently stated in interviews the bill is not discriminatory. Regardless of this insincere statement, members of the LGBT community and allies can decode the equivocal language being used to mitigate the discriminatory nature of this bill.

Advocates of the bill see it as shield of protection. Critics see it as another implementation of anti-gay, bigoted world views. I agree with the latter perspective. The signing of this bill is yet another ruse intended to hinder the rights of a marginalized group, while posing under the guise of “religious freedom.”

The Religious Freedom Restoration is just another tactic spewing similar rhetoric used in the 19th and early 20th centuries, all while  equating denial of the right to discriminate as somehow religiously intolerant.