Backlash Continues: Angie's List Cancels Indiana Expansion

Angie's List is giving Indiana a bad review — so bad, in fact, plans for expanding its headquarters in the state are canceled.

First Yelp, and now Angie's List is making clear that it is "hugely disappointed" by Indiana's discrimination law, signed this week by Republican governor Mike Pence. The web service for reviewing businesses announced today that it has yanked an Indianapolis expansion project from city-county council consideration. The company said it had been just days from breaking ground on the project.

"We are putting the 'Ford Building Project' on hold until we fully understand the implications of the freedom restoration act on our employees, both current and future," said Angie's List CEO Bill Oesterle in a statement. "Angie's List is open to all and discriminates against none and we are hugely disappointed in what this bill represents."

The chairman of Yelp, a competing business review site, had earlier condemned the Indiana law, which among other effects will let business owners refuse service to LGBT customers by claiming it offends their religious beliefs.

"What is happening in Indiana is pretty unbelievable," wrote Max Levchin, who also co-founded PayPal, on Twitter. "However it’s dressed up, it’s a signal that discrimination is welcome in this state."

Tech companies have been among the first to call out Indiana for its license to discriminate law, with Apple CEO Tim Cook also expressing "disappointment" while noting that Arkansas is actively considering a similar law.

"Apple is open for everyone," he wrote on Twitter. "We are deeply disappointed in Indiana's new law and calling on Arkansas Gov. to veto the similar #HB1228."

Arkansas isn't the only one, though. The Human Rights Campaign is following similar bills in 23 states. 

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