Rihanna Blasts 'Religious Discrimination' Laws During Indianapolis Concert

@ 2026 Equal Entertainment LLC.
All rights reserved

Rihanna Blasts 'Religious Discrimination' Laws During Indianapolis Concert
The singer made her feelings very clear.
 Neal Broverman
          
          Apr 05, 2015
          
        
Neal Broverman
Neal Broverman is the Editorial Director, Print of Pride Media, publishers of The Advocate, Out, Out Traveler, and Plus, spending more than 20 years in journalism. He indulges his interest in transportation and urban planning with regular contributions to Los Angeles magazine, and his work has also appeared in the Los Angeles Times and USA Today. He lives in the City of Angels with his husband, children, and their chiweenie.
 See Full Bio 
                  Follow:
                  
While performing at the March Madness Music Fest in Indianapolis on Saturday night, Rihanna took a few seconds out to take aim at the state's antigay "religious discrimination" laws.
In typical Rihanna fashion, the pop star spoke plainfully (and dropped no shortage of invectives). Watch below:
 

        
        FROM OUR SPONSORS
        
    

        
        The Latest
        
    
National
        Virginia Republican names bill for swimmer whose fifth-place tie with trans athlete launched lucrative career
    Rep. John McGuire’s proposed Riley Gaines Act would allow athletes to sue colleges that permit transgender women to compete in women’s sports.
Christopher Wiggins
States
        New Hampshire House advances transgender bathroom bill, breaking with New England
    The Republican-led legislation places the state increasingly out of step with the rest of New England on trans rights.
Christopher Wiggins
National
        Darrell Issa’s retirement opens Palm Springs–area House race for queer Democrats
    The longtime California Republican congressman is packing it up.
Christopher Wiggins
Opinion
        From abomination to somebody: What Jesse Jackson meant to Black queer boys in the Back pew
    A queer Black writer reflects on Rev. Jesse Jackson’s evolving relationship with LGBTQ+ people — and what it meant for those of us raised in the Black church.
James B. Golden

        
        More For You
        
        In 'Everywhere Isn't Texas,' August Ponthier sings for queer Texans who stay
    
Mey Rude
Feb 17, 2026
Album art for August Ponthier's album 'Everywhere Isn't Texas'

        August Ponthier/Julian Buchan/
    
        "It's the only place you know / But that don't make it home," nonbinary singer/songwriter August Ponthier sings with a golden hour drawl in the title track from their debut album Everywhere Isn't Texas, out now. Keep Reading →

        Time to march! 19 protest songs to spark a queer revolution
    
Mey Rude
Feb 13, 2026
Brandi Carlile, Tracy Chapman, and Bruce Springsteen are all featured on this protest song playlist.

        Kevin Mazur/Getty Images for Roc Nation | John Shearer/Getty Images for The Recording Academy | Alex Kormann/The Minnesota Star Tribune via Getty Images
    
  Get motivated in the fight against fascism, and march to this music. Keep Reading →

        TN Republican demands official probe after calling Bad Bunny's Super Bowl halftime show 'gay pornography'
    
Christopher Wiggins
Feb 10, 2026
Rep. Andy Ogles (R-TN) walks through the U.S. Capitol on February 3, 2026 in Washington, D.C. 

        Heather Diehl/Getty Images
    
        U.S. Rep. Andy Ogles, a Tennessee Republican, is calling for a congressional investigation into the Apple Music Super Bowl LX halftime show headlined by Puerto Rican megastar Bad Bunny, falsely accusing the National Football League and broadcaster NBC of airing what he said was “gay pornography” and other explicit content during one of the most-watched television events in the country. Keep Reading →

        Editor’s Letter: “It’s hard enough being human”
    
Alex Cooper
Jan 23, 2026

        courtesy Alex Cooper; Alyssa Pointer
    
        Just before casting my vote in the 2024 election in my hometown in South Carolina, I turned on Brandi Carlile’s “The Joke” from her album By the Way I Forgive You, which was written in the aftermath of Donald Trump’s 2016 win. I needed to listen to it before I went into the voting booth. Carlile’s soaring vocals and poignant lyrics about hope in the face of persecution comforted me as I pulled into the parking lot of a former Walmart turned megachurch that served as my polling station. I parked my Subaru and cried, singing along between quiet sobs. Keep Reading →

        Zohran Mamdani: Save a horse, play a yet-unreleased Kim Petras album
    
Bernardo Sim
Dec 30, 2025

        Zohran Mamdani; Kim Petras
    
        Ron Adar/Shutterstock; Amigo Records/Republic Records
    
        If Zohran Mamdani is a BunHead, then Kim Petras can be an animal rights activist. That's how pop music and politics work in 2025, after all. Keep Reading →

        Most Popular
        
States
        Iowa House Republicans pass a bill that will make the lives of transgender residents worse
    Conservative lawmakers are attempting to take away protections that some local governments have put in place to prevent discrimination against their LGBTQ+ citizens.
Jack Walker
Opinion
        Kristi Noem is a cautionary tale for white gay Republicans
    Opinion: Proximity to (and even building) misogynistic machinery will not protect you, writes contributor Josh Ackley.
Josh Ackley
National
        Republicans rage after Trump appears to soften stance on trans care
    On Truth Social, the president appeared to leave the door open to kids getting gender-affirming care with "express written approval of the parents."
Christopher Wiggins
People
        Gay professional gamer detained by ICE fears deportation to Cameroon, where homosexuality is illegal
    Ludovic Mbock’s Maryland family is worried that he will be sent to a country where homosexuality is illegal.
Christopher Wiggins
Arts & Entertainment
        10 of the sexiest music videos that gagged everyone in 2025
    These celebrities brought the sex appeal in their steamy videos this year.
Ricky Cornish
Arts & Entertainment
        Liza Minnelli, flanked by a phalanx of dancers, surprises audience at the GLAAD Media Awards
    The gay icon brought the LGBTQ+ awards show to its feet.
Daniel Reynolds

Site Navigation

Rihanna Blasts 'Religious Discrimination' Laws During Indianapolis Concert

The singer made her feelings very clear.

The Latest

Virginia Republican names bill for swimmer whose fifth-place tie with trans athlete launched lucrative career

Rep. John McGuire’s proposed Riley Gaines Act would allow athletes to sue colleges that permit transgender women to compete in women’s sports.

New Hampshire House advances transgender bathroom bill, breaking with New England

The Republican-led legislation places the state increasingly out of step with the rest of New England on trans rights.

Darrell Issa’s retirement opens Palm Springs–area House race for queer Democrats

The longtime California Republican congressman is packing it up.

From abomination to somebody: What Jesse Jackson meant to Black queer boys in the Back pew

A queer Black writer reflects on Rev. Jesse Jackson’s evolving relationship with LGBTQ+ people — and what it meant for those of us raised in the Black church.

LGBTQ+ stories deserve to betold.

Was John Lennon gay? Paul McCartney discussed bandmate’s sexuality rumors in unearthed interview

12 lesbian music icons to know this Lesbian Visibility Day

16 Trans and Fluid Musicians Who Transformed Music

Zara Larsson's new album is so queer, and she's not afraid to admit it

More For You

In 'Everywhere Isn't Texas,' August Ponthier sings for queer Texans who stay

Time to march! 19 protest songs to spark a queer revolution

TN Republican demands official probe after calling Bad Bunny's Super Bowl halftime show 'gay pornography'

Editor’s Letter: “It’s hard enough being human”

Zohran Mamdani: Save a horse, play a yet-unreleased Kim Petras album

Most Popular

Iowa House Republicans pass a bill that will make the lives of transgender residents worse

Conservative lawmakers are attempting to take away protections that some local governments have put in place to prevent discrimination against their LGBTQ+ citizens.

Kristi Noem is a cautionary tale for white gay Republicans

Opinion: Proximity to (and even building) misogynistic machinery will not protect you, writes contributor Josh Ackley.

Gay professional gamer detained by ICE fears deportation to Cameroon, where homosexuality is illegal

Ludovic Mbock’s Maryland family is worried that he will be sent to a country where homosexuality is illegal.

10 of the sexiest music videos that gagged everyone in 2025

These celebrities brought the sex appeal in their steamy videos this year.

Liza Minnelli, flanked by a phalanx of dancers, surprises audience at the GLAAD Media Awards

The gay icon brought the LGBTQ+ awards show to its feet.

Latest Stories

Stay up to date with the latest in LGBTQ+ news with The Advocate’s email newsletter, in your inbox five days a week.

Rihanna Blasts 'Religious Discrimination' Laws During Indianapolis Concert

The singer made her feelings very clear.

FROM OUR SPONSORS

The Latest

Rep. John McGuire’s proposed Riley Gaines Act would allow athletes to sue colleges that permit transgender women to compete in women’s sports.

The Republican-led legislation places the state increasingly out of step with the rest of New England on trans rights.

The longtime California Republican congressman is packing it up.

A queer Black writer reflects on Rev. Jesse Jackson’s evolving relationship with LGBTQ+ people — and what it meant for those of us raised in the Black church.

LGBTQ+ stories deserve to betold.

More For You

Most Popular

Conservative lawmakers are attempting to take away protections that some local governments have put in place to prevent discrimination against their LGBTQ+ citizens.

Opinion: Proximity to (and even building) misogynistic machinery will not protect you, writes contributor Josh Ackley.

On Truth Social, the president appeared to leave the door open to kids getting gender-affirming care with "express written approval of the parents."

Ludovic Mbock’s Maryland family is worried that he will be sent to a country where homosexuality is illegal.

These celebrities brought the sex appeal in their steamy videos this year.

The gay icon brought the LGBTQ+ awards show to its feet.