Indiana officials on Monday announced
that they had hired a public relations firms to “enhance” the
state's image.
The move comes after several companies
threatened to boycott the state over passage of the state's version
of a Religious Freedom Restoration Act (RFRA) which opponents argued
was a response to a federal court's ruling striking down Indiana's
ban on gay marriage and would allow businesses to turn away gay
couples.
The backlash led Republican Governor
Mike Pence to ask lawmakers for a “fix,” which included adding
LGBT protections to the law.
“We are engaging with our partners in
state tourism and the internationally-respected firm Porter Novelli
to enhance our state's image and remind the country that Indiana
remains a great place to live, work and visit,” Indiana Secretary
of Commerce Victor Smith said in a statement.
“Now more than ever, we want to
remind the world that Hoosiers welcome everyone and that Indiana is a
great place for individuals, entrepreneurs and businesses to reach
their full potential,” he
added.