Jindal: ‘I will not change’ on gay marriage

Gov. Bobby Jindal (R-La.), a potential 2016 presidential contender, on Thursday vowed that he wouldn’t drop his “faith-driven” opposition to same-sex marriage despite public pressure.

“I hold the view that has been the consensus in our country for over two centuries: that marriage is between one man and one woman,” Jindal wrote in a New York Times op-ed.

“Polls indicate that the American consensus is changing — but like many other believers, I will not change my faith-driven view on this matter, even if it becomes a minority opinion.”

{mosads}Jindal was writing in support of Louisiana’s proposed Marriage and Conscience Act, which would allow business owners to refuse services they believe violate their religious beliefs.

The measure is similar to laws in Indiana and Arkansas that sparked a national outcry. Critics said the measures would sanction discrimination against gays and lesbians by business owners, and the intense public pressure led the states to clarify their laws.

Jindal argued that his state could not force businesses to condone same-sex marriage against someone’s religious beliefs. He said the bill would prevent any “adverse action” by the state toward a business over marriage.

Jindal added that while Indiana and Arkansas backed down and narrowed the scope of their laws, Louisiana would not.

“That political leaders in both states quickly cowered amid the shrieks of big business and the radical left should alarm us all,” Jindal argued.

“As the fight for religious liberty moves to Louisiana, I have a clear message for any corporation that contemplates bullying our state: Save your breath.”

Republican Govs. Mike Pence (Ind.) and Asa Hutchinson (Ark.) both backpedaled last month on religious freedom laws in their respective states after national criticism.

The two have since authorized changes forbidding businesses to discriminate against gay, lesbian, bisexual or transgender individuals.

Critics of such laws argue that they let businesses practice discrimination against minority groups on religious grounds. The laws’ advocates, however, claim that such legislation prevents government meddling in businesses’ faith-based decisions.