In letter, Gov. Pence welcomes Indy Pride festival

Republican Gov. Mike Pence, who earlier this year pushed for a religious freedom law that angered supporters of gay rights, issued a short welcome letter to Indy Pride for its LGBT celebration festival that starts this week.

"On behalf of the people of Indiana, welcome to Indianapolis," Pence wrote in the letter. "I am confident that those of you who traveled from out of state will come to know our famous Hoosier Hospitality."

Pence's short letter touts Indianapolis' attractions as a convention city but does not address specific details or the purpose of the LGBT pride event.

"Although the letter doesn't specifically welcome LGBT to the city of Indianapolis, we appreciate that Governor Pence issued us this letter," said Indy Pride president Chris Morehead.

Pence's response came months after Indy Pride requested a letter from him, during the height of the Religious Freedom Restoration Act controversy, to welcome event visitors as other elected officials routinely do.

"What better way to show that Indiana is open for business and not targeting certain groups than for the Governor of Indiana to put out the welcome mat to these visitors," Morehead wrote at the end of March. "We think it would go a long way to allay the fears the nation and the world have been expressing against RFRA."

Earlier this week, Morehead said Pence had not responded to his letter. The Indianapolis Star contacted a Pence spokeswoman Tuesday to confirm and ask whether the governor intended to respond.

Hours later, Pence's office said it drafted a letter and was sending it to the local LGBT nonprofit.

A conservative, Pence has strongly opposed same-sex marriage throughout his tenure in Congress and as governor.

Indy Pride also received another welcome letter Wednesday from state Superintendent of Public Instruction Glenda Ritz, who is expected to announce Thursday her candidacy for the Democratic nomination for governor.

Ritz's letter, written on a "Glenda Ritz for Governor 2016" letterhead, praised the Pride activities and volunteers.

"Whenever Hoosiers get a chance to demonstrate how open and welcoming we are, we shine," Ritz said, later adding, "I'm proud to participate in this year's festival, and to support a continuing atmosphere that welcomes ALL to our great state. Let's hope the coming year is a full Equality year!"

Other politicians' welcome letters to Indy Pride sought to reassure visitors of the state's friendliness to all despite the backlash against the state's religious freedom law.

"I offer a special and personal assurance to you that Indianapolis remains an open, welcoming, and inclusive city," wrote Indianapolis Mayor Greg Ballard, a Republican who will serve as grand marshal of the Indy Pride parade because of his staunch opposition to RFRA.

Some contrasted Pence's letter with one that then-Gov. Mitch Daniels, a fellow Republican, sent to Indy Pride in 2005: "This celebration seeks to foster understanding and acceptance of individuals without regard to gender, gender identity, race, religion, ethnicity, sexual orientation, or any of the differences that too often divide us, in a state that urgently needs to confront its challenges with unity of purpose," Daniels wrote.

Still, Pence's letter to Indy Pride provoked criticism from several sides. Some of his supporters expressed disappointment in his decision to welcome the LGBT festival, and some of his opponents felt the letter did not go far enough.

Micah Clark, executive director of the conservative advocacy group American Family Association of Indiana, criticized Pence for the letter, saying, "It wasn't politically necessary, or wise."

In an email to supporters, Clark also wrote, "This is happening right when social conservatives and people of faith are already disgusted with the Republican party, politics, and many politicians. This is like a stick in their eye, and for many, this will be a bridge they can no longer cross again on Election Day."

The religious freedom law known as RFRA stoked controversy over whether it would afford additional protections to the deeply religious at the expense of civil rights of lesbians, gays, bisexuals and transgender people. Supporters of the measure said it was needed to protect religion from unnecessary government intrusion.

Concerns over the law's impact led some businesses, cities and conventions to say they would boycott Indiana for fear of the law allowing disparate treatment — including restaurants and shops refusing services — based on visitors' sexual orientation or gender identity.

The law, which goes into effect July 1, was amended at Pence's urging to address those concerns. The clarification explicitly forbids the erosion of local ordinances that prohibit discrimination based on sexual orientation.

However, Pence declined to take up the addition of sexual orientation and gender identity as protected classes to state nondiscrimination laws.

Call Star reporter Stephanie Wang at (317) 444-6184. Follow her on Twitter: @stephaniewang.