Final answer:
The Religious Freedom Restoration Act (RFRA) is a federal law that protects religious freedoms from government intrusion. It has been followed by similar state laws and has sparked controversy over its application to discrimination against same-sex couples and LGBTQ people.
Step-by-step explanation:
The Religious Freedom Restoration Act (RFRA) is a federal law that was passed in 1993 to protect diverse religious freedoms from government intrusion. It was later followed by similar state laws that aim to curtail certain rights provided to gay and lesbian people through federal recognition of same-sex marriages. RFRA laws prohibit the government from substantially burdening an individual's exercise of religion unless it serves a compelling governmental interest to do so. These laws have been controversial, as they allow individuals, businesses, and organizations to discriminate against others, primarily same-sex couples and LGBTQ people, based on their religious beliefs.