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Lawmakers in the Indiana Senate have abandoned efforts to find a compromise between LGBT rights and religious freedom, saying they didn't have the votes to pass a controversial bill that would created new gay rights ubt excluded transgender Hoosiers from non-discrimination laws.
That's drawn substantial criticism from business leaders and advocates for LGBT people who say the state has already waited too long to address gay rights issues.
"It is very clearly in our economic interest as a state to send a message loud and clear that discrimination is not acceptable in Indiana," said Bill Ocsterle, co-chair of Tech for Equality, who support adding sexual orientation and gender identity to the state's civil rights law. "More importantly, it is in our best interest to ensure that our laws reflect our values of fairness and Hoosier hospitality."
The bill was expected to be called Feb 2 for amendments. But after a Senate Republican caucus, the...