Arkansas lawmakers passed a Religious Freedom Restoration Act on Tuesday that critics said would allow businesses to deny service to gays and lesbians, drawing a swift demand from Wal-Mart Stores Inc for the governor to veto the bill.

...

Some of the most powerful U.S. companies, including Apple (AAPL.O), Angie's List, diesel engine-maker Cummins Inc (CMI.N), Salesforce Marketing Cloud and drug-maker Eli Lilly and Co (LLY.N), had called on Pence to clarify or repeal the law, which passed with an overwhelming majority in the state's legislature.

Democratic governors, joined by New York Governor Andrew Cuomo on Tuesday, banned official state business travel to Indiana. Auto racing company NASCAR and the Indianapolis-based NCAA, an organization for university athletic programs, voiced concern over the law.

At a news conference Pence said the law protected people of all faiths from being forced by the government to go against their beliefs. The lawyer and one-time radio talk-show host repeatedly denied that the intent of the law was to allow discrimination.