Governor defends law affecting gays

Indiana's governor defended a new state law widely criticized as fostering discrimination against gay people, and said on Sunday it wasn't a mistake to have enacted it.

Mike Pence appeared on ABC television's This Week with George Stephanopoulos to discuss the measure he signed into law last week prohibiting state laws that "substantially burden" a person's ability to follow his or her religious beliefs. The definition of "person" includes religious institutions, businesses and associations.

Some national gay-rights groups say it's a way for lawmakers in Indiana and other states where such bills have been proposed this year to essentially grant a state-sanctioned waiver for discrimination against gay men and women, as the US Supreme Court prepares to hear arguments next month over the constitutionality of same-sex marriage.