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George Takei: LGBT Protections Still Needed Despite Amended Indiana, Arkansas Religious Freedom Laws

Both Indiana and Arkansas have passed fixes to their laws.

After a national outcry, both Indiana and Arkansas have passed fixes to their so-called religious freedom laws that threatened to sanction anti-LGBT discrimination. Both measures were signed into law Thursday by the states’ governors. The revisions to Indiana’s Religious Freedom Restoration Act provide new protections to lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender employees, tenants and customers, lawmakers. The fixes do not apply to churches or schools. The new Arkansas bill is crafted to make the state’s religious freedom law more closely mirror a federal law that had been signed by former President Bill Clinton. Critics note the fixes to the anti-LGBT laws will not expand LGBT rights. We speak to George Takei, legendary actor and gay rights activist. Last week, he called for a boycott of Indiana to condemn its anti-LGBT law saying he wanted to “not only send a clear message to Indiana, but also to help stop the further erosion of our core civil values in other parts of this country.”

Please check back later for full transcript.

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