Audra McDonald Takes Gov. Mike Pence to Task

Screen-and-stage star Audra McDonald, who proudly owns the Twitter handle @AudraEqualityMc, chimed in on that social medium Thursday about the Religious Freedom Restoration Act signed by Indiana Governor Mike Pence. And then she chimed in about it again and again. She certainly made her points ahead of two appearances in Indianapolis in April, rescheduled from December at Hilbert Circle Theatre.

Interestingly, at an anti-RFRA rally to be held Saturday at the Indiana Statehouse, members of the Indianapolis Men’s Chorus are set to perform “Make Them Hear You,” a song from Ragtime, the Broadway musical that featured McDonald in its original cast. (Programming remains subject to change, of course.) Previously, the Gay Men’s Chorus of Washington, D.C., performed that song on the steps of the U.S. Supreme Court on June 26, 2013, after opinions on the federal Defense of Marriage Act and California’s Prop 8 were read.

Here is McDonald’s timeline in speaking out:

.@GovPenceIN Some in my band are gay & we have 2 gigs in your state next month. Should we call ahead to make sure the hotel accepts us all? — Audra McDonald (@AudraEqualityMc) March 26, 2015

.@GovPenceIN or could you maybe send us a list of where its okay for us to go? Might the law apply to me?(I’m black).

— Audra McDonald (@AudraEqualityMc) March 26, 2015

.@GovPenceIN or maybe I should fire my gay band members just to be on the safe side. — Audra McDonald (@AudraEqualityMc) March 26, 2015

.@GovPenceIN Or MAYBE I donate the money I make in your state while Im there to organizations that will combat your hateful legislation.

— Audra McDonald (@AudraEqualityMc) March 26, 2015

.@GovPenceIN Yep. That’s what I’ll do. Hey @HRC get ready for a little money coming your way from Indiana via me to you! Have at it! — Audra McDonald (@AudraEqualityMc) March 26, 2015

Thanks to those who have made me aware of @freedom_indiana. I will definitely donate to them as well.

— Audra McDonald (@AudraEqualityMc) March 26, 2015