INDIANAPOLIS -- Gov. Mike Pence says he expects to make a decision early in the legislative session on the issue of statewide protections for the LGBT community.
His remarks come as a new poll shows the majority of people in Indiana support making it illegal to discriminate against that population.
Pence didn't comment specifically on the poll, but said people will know where he stands on the issue early next year.
The governor says he's spent the last six months listening respectfully to people on all sides of the issue. He plans to continue to do so, and to talk to policy makers.
Bellwether Research surveyed nearly 1,300 registered voters on behalf of the Indianapolis Chamber of Commerce. Their poll found 62 percent of people either "strongly" or "somewhat" support making it illegal to discriminate against LGBT citizens.
The poll also found almost three-quarters of people think it's already illegal to discriminate against the LGBT community in Indiana.
"It's the strongest showing we've seen to date on people who support the civil rights law to include lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender Hoosiers," said Jennifer Wagner, of Freedom Indiana. "That's really important. Sixty-two percent is a big, big number."
Pence said Hoosiers will soon "know precisely where I stand."
"I'm very confident that, as is the case with many issues we deal with in this state, our legislature will consider this matter in a thoughtful way to make their determination," Pence said.
On Wednesday, the "Indiana Competes" coalition announced the NCAA had joined about 300 other businesses to advocate for statewide protections for LGBT citizens.
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