La. Gov. Bobby Jindal Says He's 'Holding Firm' in Opposition to Gay Marriage

Louisiana Governor Bobby Jindal has recently published an opinion piece regarding his opposition to same-sex marriage, encouraging conservative politicians and local businesses to unite in their protection of religious freedoms. 

Jindal, who some suggest may run for the presidency in 2016, expressed his beliefs on the subject in a recent Op-Ed published in the New York Times. The opinion piece's headline was "I'm holding firm against gay marriage."

The governor focused his argument on the recent battle over the Religious Freedom Restoration Act in Arkansas and Indiana that would prevent local governments from infringing on a person's religious rights unless they have a "compelling interest" to do so.

Jindal expressed disappointment that businesses in some states where persuading lawmakers to back down from supporting the religious protection bill, convincing legislators that such a bill would warrant discrimination against gay customers based on religious beliefs.

Jindal's Op-Ed encouraged Louisiana businesses and conservative politicians to support a recently-introduced religious protection bill in the state. 

"Our country was founded on the principle of religious liberty, enshrined in the Bill of Rights. Why shouldn't an individual or business have the right to cite, in a court proceeding, religious liberty as a reason for not participating in a same-sex marriage ceremony that violates a sincerely held religious belief?" Jindal questioned in the Op-Ed.

"Hollywood and the media elite are hostile to our values and they tip the scales to our liberal opponents at every opportunity," wrote Jindal. "Liberals have decided that if they can't win at the ballot box, they will win in the boardroom. It's a deliberate strategy. And it's time for corporate America to make a decision," Jindal added, suggesting that conservatives reach an alliance with corporations on both an economic and social level.