Indiana’s religious-objections — which some convention organizers and business leaders opposed, saying it could effectively sanction discrimination against gay people — was signed into law Thursday by the midwestern state’s Republican governor.

The Associated Press noted that Indiana is the first state to enact such a measure among the dozen or so where one has been introduced. The Indiana legislation’s stated goal was to prohibit state and local laws that “substantially burden” the ability of people, including businesses and other organizations, to act in accordance with religious beliefs.