Alternative Senate LGBT bill leaves out transgender rights

INDIANAPOLIS (AP) – A Republican state senator who previously proposed granting Indiana civil rights protections to lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people has unveiled a new bill that would leave transgender rights out of the equation.

Sen. Travis Holdman of Markle released the new proposal Thursday amid divisions in the GOP-controlled Senate over his previous bill.

Holdman’s new bill would have lawmakers study the transgender rights issue after this year’s legislative session. It also adds more robust protections for those with “sincerely held” religious opposition to gay people.

Unlike his prior proposal, the new bill would allow cities that previously passed LGBT rights protections to keep those ordinances on the books.

Senate leaders say both this bill as well as Holdman’s previous measure will be considered by a Senate committee.