Social conservatives are doubling down on their push for state-based religious freedom laws, lashing out at businesses that have vigorously opposed the measures and accusing Democrats of trampling Christians’ civil rights.

While more moderate Republican presidential hopeful Jeb Bush appeared to soften his stance, GOP Sen. Ted Cruz of Texas stood firm Wednesday night and denounced Democrats who he said “want to persecute anyone that has a good faith religious belief that marriage is a holy sacrament between the union of one man and one woman and ordained as a covenant by God.”


He also took aim at Fortune 500 companies during a stop in Iowa, saying they are “running shamelessly to endorse the radical gay marriage agenda over religious liberty.”

Cruz captured the backlash to the backlash that is energizing evangelicals after Republican Govs. Mike Pence of Indiana and Asa Hutchinson of Arkansas in recent days sought legislative changes to religious freedom legislation that critics argue allow for discrimination against the LGBT community.

The bills touched off a national cultural debate and highlighted the competing interests of the socially conservative and business-minded wings of the Republican party. A broad range of corporations and organizations — including Apple, Eli Lilly, Angie’s List, the NCAA and Wal-Mart — have vigorously opposed the bills and pressured vetoes or significant retooling.

Some of those companies are taking heat for their stance. The Family Research Council, a conservative Christian group, this week launched a campaign for people to boycott Angie’s List, whose Republican CEO, Bill Oesterle, put on hold a proposed expansion project in Indianapolis, citing disappointment in what the state’s religious freedom bill represented.

“Show them that as a supporter of religious liberty, you won’t stand for paying dues to a company that disregards the freedom of people to live their daily lives according to what they believe,” the Religious Freedom Council said in its online petition.

The council’s president, Tony Perkins, took to Twitter to also attack Wal-Mart, which is the biggest private employer in Arkansas and received credit from some for influencing Hutchinson’s shift on the legislation. “@WalmartNewsroom, you want to rollback religious freedom? Goodbye Walmart, Hello neighborhood grocer!” Perkins posted on Wednesday.

Pence and Hutchinson were not spared conservatives’ wrath.

Iowa radio host and Washington Times columnist Steve Deace said in an interview on Wednesday that he hopes the Arkansas General Assembly refuses to heed Hutchinson’s call to modify the bill.

“I would make the governor veto what amounts to the First Amendment before I changed a single word,” Deace said. “I have no mercy or patience left for gutless Republicans.”

Nick Gass and Kendall Breitman contributed to this report.