Indiana Governor Mike Pence has received a vote of support from Franklin Graham amid backlash over the State's passage of the Religious Freedom Restoration Act into law.
Graham, who leads the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association, issued a statement on Monday expressing support for Governor Pence.
"Thank God for politicians like Governor Pence who are not afraid to take a stand regardless of the political consequences. We need more men like him in public office across this country," Graham's statement said.
The governor signed the Act into law on March 26, and was immediately greeted with anger from both gay rights activists and conservatives, who are concerned that the Act will promote discrimination against gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender people.
The Christian Post said that state leaders and businesses vowed to boycott the state of Indiana, accusing it of anti-gay discrimination. According to Reuters, corporations like Angie's List Inc. and Wal-Mart Stores Inc. as well as individual personalities like Apple's Chief Executive Officer Tim Cook are among the prominent opponents of the Act.
Governor Pence defended the law in an appearance in ABC News "This Week" in which he said that the law is not about discrimination and it "does not apply to disputes between individuals, unless government action is involved."
However, Indiana's governor did not give an answer when he was asked if the law will protect Christian businesses who refuse to provide services to a gay couple.
Conservative Dr Robert Jeffress, who leads the First Baptist Church in Dallas, accused the governor of "capitulating to the far left" for refusing to answer the question, the Christian Post said.
"(I)f he cannot offer protection for (businesses)... who (refuse) to participate in a gay ceremony, this is not a clarification of the bill he's making, this is a capitulation to the far left and this religious freedom law won't be worth the paper it's written on," Jeffress said in an interview with FOX News' "Hannity" on Tuesday.
