All eyes are on Indiana after Governor Mike Pence (R) signed a controversial religious freedom bill into law. The Posts Sarah Pulliam Bailey explains what exactly is in the law and why both sides are so vocal. (Pamela Kirkland/The Washington Post)

Indiana, a largely conservative state that votes pretty reliably Republican in presidential races, has become symbolic ina clash between politics and culture, religious rights and LGBT rights.

Last week, Indiana Gov. MikePence (R) signed into law a controversial religious freedom bill: Opponentsare concerned that it could allow discrimination against gay people.The law in question is called theReligious Freedom Restoration Act, more commonlyknown as RFRA.

The new law allows corporations to make an RFRA claim, expanding the number and type of groups that could make those claims in court. The law also makes it clear that RFRA can be used in lawsuits between individuals, when those claims usually apply only to conflicts between the government and individuals. However, its still unclear how exactly it could be used in court.

[Opinion: Tim Cook: Pro-discrimination religious freedom laws are dangerous]

Lawmakers are attempting to address the firestorm over the law that has prompted some convention organizers and businesses to threaten to cancel plansin the state over concerns of discrimination. The law has drawn attention from across the nation, as Seattle and San Francisco mayorshave urgeda boycott of Indiana.

A new Indiana law designed to keep the government from forcing business owners to act against their religious beliefs draws fierce criticism. (Reuters)

University of Virginia law professorDouglas Laycock, one of the nations foremost law-and-religion scholars, says the conversation has escalated over misunderstandings over previous cases.RFRA has become a national controversy in the past year since Kansas and Arizona considered and abandonedreligious freedom legislation. And last summer,RFRA was raised during last yearsHobby Lobby decision by the Supreme Court.

Theres bad behavior on both sides. Gay rights groups, as they become stronger and stronger and get more support for same-sex marriagekeep demanding more and more. Now they dont want any religious exceptions for anybody, Laycocksaid. Republican legislators are pandering to the base and saying we need to protect against gay marriage. These statements from the right fuel the outrage on the left.

[Opinion: What will the Indiana religious freedom law really do?]

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How Indianas religious freedom law escalated to such national prominence