Fix This Now

"Fix This Now" was the headline on the front page of Indiana's dominant newspaper,[1] the Indianapolis Star, on March 31, 2015. Almost the entire front page of the newspaper was taken by the headline, set in large white letters on a black background.

Front page of the Indianapolis Star, March 31, 2015

It is unusual for a 20th- or 21st-century mass-market American newspaper to dedicate its entire front page to an editorial or for a non-tabloid to set any headline in such large type. Many publications commented on the headline on the day of its appearance. The Washington Post called the move "extraordinary",[2] the New York Daily News called it "rare".[3] Other major publications such as Time also took immediate notice of the Star's editorial,[4][5][6] and news of and commentary on the event was quickly and widely tweeted and circulated on social media.[1][7]

The editorial was occasioned by Indiana's newly passed Religious Freedom Restoration Act (RFRA). Unlike many State Religious Freedom Restoration Acts, Indiana's did not (at that time) prohibit its use to discriminate against LGBT people, and allowed private entities to cite the law as a defense in a civil suit. The editorial called on the legislature and Indiana governor Mike Pence to pass another law ensuring that the law cannot be used as an excuse to discriminate against gay people:

We are at a critical moment in Indiana's history. And much is at stake... Half steps will not undo the damage... Gov. Mike Pence and the General Assembly need to enact a state law to prohibit discrimination in employment, housing, education and public accommodations on the basis of a person's sexual orientation or gender identity. Those protections and RFRA can co-exist. They do elsewhere... Governor, Indiana is in a state of crisis. It is worse than you seem to understand. You must act with courage and wisdom. You must lead us forward now. You must ensure that all Hoosiers have strong protections against discrimination.

— Indianapolis Star (Jeff Taylor, editor), "Gov. Pence, fix 'religious freedom' law now", Indianapolis Star[8]

The editorial, which also promoted the hashtag #WeAreIndiana with the assertion that "Indiana embraces everyone and we do not discriminate", was published in the context of a larger general backlash against the Indiana law.

References
  1. Joshua Benton (March 31, 2015). "When your newspaper wants to make a big statement, make sure you're making it online too". Nieman Lab. Nieman Foundation. Retrieved April 30, 2015.
  2. Fred Barbash (March 31, 2015). "'FIX THIS NOW' says Indy Star, saying 'religious freedom' law has done 'enormous harm'". Washington Post. Retrieved March 31, 2015.
  3. Jason Silverstein (March 31, 2015). "'Fix This Now': Indianapolis Star challenges state's religious freedom law as major names continue commentary on controversy". New York Daily News. Retrieved March 31, 2015.
  4. Maya Rhodan (March 31, 2015). "Indianapolis Star Urges Governor to 'Fix' Religious Freedom Law". Time. Retrieved March 31, 2015.
  5. Ben Mathis-Lilley (March 31, 2015). "'Fix This Now," Indiana's Largest Newspaper Demands in Huge Front-Page RFRA Headline". Slate. Retrieved April 1, 2015.
  6. Amy Davidson (March 31, 2015). "Why a G.O.P. Gambit Backfired in Indiana". The New Yorker. Retrieved April 1, 2015.
  7. Joe Tamborello (March 31, 2015). "Nation responds to IndyStar's front page editorial". Indianapolis Star. Retrieved March 31, 2015.
  8. "Editorial: Gov. Pence, fix 'religious freedom' law now". Indianapolis Star. March 31, 2015. Retrieved March 31, 2015.
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