Baron Hill, former Indiana Representative and Democratic candidate for U.S. Senate, spoke Monday at an artisan shop in Indianapolis about the damage RFRA has done to the state's economy. Hill says if elected he would back a federal bill that offers LGBT protections.
Hill says the Religious Freedom Restoration Act, which Governor Mike Pence signed into law last year, has cost the tourism industry $60 million.
He says he would support a proposed federal law called The Equality Act that seeks to patch up the holes created by laws like RFRA, which some say allow for legal discrimination against members of the LGBT community.
"There are certain protections that need to be had by the LGBT community," Hill says. "These businesses here are paying the price for this legislation."
Marlin Stutzman, a Republican Congressman running against Hill, says he supports RFRA. He said in a statement earlier this year that the liberal-progressive movement has remained silent as more Christians are under attack for their beliefs.
The campaign for Republican Congressman Todd Young, also running for the U.S. Senate seat, has not responded to a request for comment.