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RELIGION

Arkansas governor calls for changes to religious objection bill criticized as anti-gay

Associated Press
Published | Updated
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    Demonstrators attend a rally on the steps of the Arkansas state Capitol in Little Rock, Ark., Tuesday, March 31, 2015, in protest of a bill that passed in the state House that critics say will lead to discrimination against gays and lesbians. (AP Photo/Danny Johnston) (The Associated Press)

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    Arkansas Gov. Asa Hutchinson answers reporters' questions as Sen. Jonathan Dismang, R-Beebe, background, listens at the state Capitol in Little Rock, Ark., Wednesday, April 1, 2015. Hutchinson called for changes to the state's religious objection measure facing a backlash from businesses and gay rights groups, saying it wasn't intended to sanction discrimination based on sexual orientation. (AP Photo/Danny Johnston) (The Associated Press)

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    Tippi McCulloch, center, surrounded by opponents of a religious objection measure passed by the Arkansas House the day before, speaks outside the governor's office, Wednesday, April 1, 2015, at the state Capitol in Little Rock, Ark. Arkansas Gov. Asa Hutchinson on Wednesday called for changes to a religious objection measure facing a backlash from businesses and gay rights groups, saying it wasn't intended to sanction discrimination based on sexual orientation. (AP Photo/Danny Johnston) (The Associated Press)

LITTLE ROCK, Ark. – Arkansas Gov. Asa Hutchinson is calling for changes to a religious objection measure facing a backlash from businesses and gay rights groups, saying it wasn't intended to allow discrimination based on sexual orientation.

The Republican governor on Wednesday said he wants changes to a bill lawmakers sent him prohibiting state and local government from infringing upon someone's religious beliefs without a compelling interest. Hutchinson said he wants the Legislature to either recall the bill or pass a follow-up measure to make the proposal more closely mirror a 1993 federal religious freedom law.