Indiana Gov. Mike Pence (R) on Sunday insisted that people on the Internet had conspired to create a "misunderstanding" that a so-called "religious freedom" law was about denying services to LGBT people. But at the same time, he repeatedly refused to answer if it effectively gave Christians a legal defense for discriminating against same-sex couples.
"I understand that there's been a tremendous amount of misinformation and misunderstanding around this bill, and I'm just determined -- and I appreciate the time on your program -- I'm just determined to clarify this," Pence told ABC's George Stephanopolous.
"So this is a yes or no question," the ABC host noted. "Is Advance America right when they say a florist in Indiana can now refuse to serve a gay couple without fear of punishment?"
Pence, however said that the purpose of the bill that he signed was to "empower" religious people.
And this was a pattern that would be repeated over the next 20 minutes: Stephanopolous asking if the bill allowed anti-LGBT discrimination, followed by Pence dodging the question.
"And so yes or no, if a florist in Indiana refuses to serve a gay couple at their wedding, is that legal now in Indiana?" Stephanopolous asked. "Yes or no?" READ MORE
