Arkansas lawmakers pass a Religious Freedom Restoration Act

Yahoo News
File photo of campaign workers casting shadows on the Arkansas state flag while preparing for a news conference for Democratic presidential candidate US Senator Hillary Clinton in North Little Rock
Campaign workers cast shadows on the Arkansas state flag while preparing for a news conference for Democratic presidential candidate US Senator Hillary Clinton (D-NY) in North Little Rock, Arkansas in this January 30, 2008, file photo. The Republican-dominated Arkansas House could vote as early as Tuesday on the Religious Freedom Restoration Act, just as human rights groups, business leaders and others across the country protest the new Indiana law, which has the same name. (REUTERS/Brian Snyder) (REUTERS)

Arkansas lawmakers passed a Religious Freedom Restoration Act on March 31, 2015, that critics said would allow businesses to deny service to gays and lesbians, drawing a swift demand from Wal-Mart Stores Inc for the governor to veto the bill.

Arkansas followed Indiana, which passed a similar act last week. They are the first to do so since same-sex marriage became legal in many states last year. Corporations have criticized the measures.

At present 37 of the 50 states and the District of Columbia permit gay marriage.

The world's biggest retailer, Wal-Mart , based in Bentonville, Ark., issued a statement saying the Arkansas bill threatened to undermine "the spirit of inclusion" in the state and "does not reflect the values we proudly uphold."

Signed by Doug McMillon, chief executive officer, the statement asked Republican Governor Asa Hutchinson to veto the legislation. (Reuters)

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