NOBLESVILLE, Ind. (AP) — A judge is allowing conservative groups to go ahead with a lawsuit challenging four Indiana cities over their anti-discrimination ordinances that include protections based on sexual orientation or gender identity.
On Wednesday, Hamilton Superior Judge Steven R. Nation rejected claims from Indianapolis, Carmel, Bloomington and Columbus that the suit should be dismissed because the groups aren’t affected by their ordinances.
Nation also ordered the Indiana Family Institute and the American Family Association of Indiana to bring their lawsuit against the state, since they’re challenging the constitutionality of an Indiana law.
The lawsuit tests the Religious Freedom Restoration Act revision, which said the law couldn’t be used to justify denying housing, jobs or services based on sexual orientation or gender identity.
The conservative groups say the revision is unconstitutional because it dismisses their conservative Christian beliefs on marriage and sexuality.
