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John Gregg on Civil Rights
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Supports equal pay for equal work
In the last campaign, we talked about leveling the playing field and eliminating the pay gap. However, since that time, Governor Pence has done nothing and the problem has gotten worse.
As governor, this will be a priority in my administration. I will lead by example and will work with the public, private and non-profit sectors to take this disparity head on.
Source: 2016 Indiana Governor campaign website GreggForGovernor.com
, Jan 12, 2016
Civil rights statute should support sexual orientation
Mike Pence has proven he's just an officeholder, not a leader. On issue after issue critical to the state of Indiana, he passes the buck. His refusal to take a stand for equality is unconscionable given the fact that he created this mess, which continues
to damage Indiana's economy and reputation. I encourage Governor Pence to join me in supporting updating our civil rights statute to include sexual orientation and gender identity so Indiana can begin to move forward again.
Source: 2016 Indiana Governor campaign website GreggForGovernor.com
, Jan 12, 2016
Supports the legality of gay marriage in Indiana
He fully sup-ports re-peal-ing RFRA, the re-li-gious free-dom bill.
In In-di-ana the law of the land is to al-low same-sex mar-riage, and he sup-ports that, and as gov-ernor he's not go-ing to fo-cus on so-cial is-sues, he's mov-ing ahead.
Source: National Journal on 2016 Indiana Gubernatorial race
, Dec 20, 2015
Protect LGBT rights; religious rights are already protected
The Religious Freedom Restoration Act was designed to keep local and state laws from "substantially burdening" the deeply-held religious principles of individuals, businesses or religious institutions. Gregg doesn't see it that way. He feels the bill
was a play to stir up the hardcore right-wing base. It painted the state in a negative light, something which could have economic repercussions for years to come. "We will never know the dollar loss that that has cost, and is costing and will cost us,"
he said. "A person that books acts at one of Indiana's largest public universities, told me that groups did not want to come to Indiana because we did not have an LGBT statute."
Both sides of the issue deserve to be heard, Gregg said, but the First
Amendment gives all the right and freedom to worship as they choose, and the extra legislation was unnecessary.
Gregg says the only social issue-related bill he wouldn't veto was adding protections for the LGBT community to a civil rights statute.
Source: Kokomo Tribune on 2016 Indiana Gubernatorial race
, Sep 24, 2015
2012: No same-sex marriage; 2015: marriage & more for LGBT
Gov. Pence as an incumbent now has a track record to defend. That gives Gregg the opportunity to point out one of Pence's main vulnerabilities--his handling of the state's Religious Freedom Restoration
Act, which some considered to be a direct slap at lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender Hoosiers.
Yet, on gay rights, Gregg's evolving opinion on the issue may become a challenge with more progressive members of the Democratic Party. In 2012, Gregg opposed same-sex marriage. But this summer, not only did he express support for the
U.S. Supreme Court ruling that legalized same-sex marriage across the country, he also is in favor of expanding Civil Rights protections for LGBT Hoosiers.
Source: Indy Star on 2016 Indiana gubernatorial race
, Aug 24, 2015
Hoosiers welcome others inclusively; RFRA is divisive
While Pence has been focused on social issues like the Religious Freedom Restoration Act (RFRA) that Gregg says can divide Indiana, the Democrat candidate said he is all about jobs, education and infrastructure. "Indiana's about being inclusive
and welcoming all peoples whether we agree with them, look like them, act like them or anything. That's Hoosier hospitality," Gregg added. Indiana is not about the RFRA "that wasn't even necessary" or any [other similar] social initiatives, Gregg said.
Source: Banner-Graphic coverage of 2016 Indiana gubernatorial race
, Jun 14, 2015
Sexual orientation & gender identity are civil rights issues
Two social issues he is pushing. The first is full repeal of the Religious Freedom Restoration Act. When I suggested that the last thing Indiana needs is Round 2 of RFRA,
Gregg insisted that there's strong support for repeal around the state. The second social issue that Gregg plans to champion is the addition of sexual orientation and gender identity to the state's civil rights law.
Source: Indianapolis Star on 2016 Indiana Gubernatorial race
, May 13, 2015
Page last updated: Jul 15, 2017