Post by Logan on May 11, 2016 6:40:14 GMT -6
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) -- By canceling its conference in Tennessee next year, the American Counseling Association wants to put other states on notice that new LGBT laws can carry consequences, the group's leader said.
The cancellation announced Tuesday, hinted at after the Tennessee General Assembly passed a new law letting therapists decline to see patients based on religious values and personal principles, is aimed at preventing similar measures elsewhere.
"Our message to other states is don't introduce bills that are essentially legalizing discrimination," said Richard Yep, the organization's CEO. "It is discriminating against those who are least able to fight back."
The conference would have brought between 3,500 to 4,000 people to Nashville, he said. The Nashville Convention & Visitors Corp. estimates that it would have generated $2.5 million in direct visitor spending and $444,609 in tax revenue for the city and the state of Tennessee.
Read more: hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/U/US_LGBT_RIGHTS_COUNSELING_LAW?SITE=AP&SECTION=HOME&TEMPLATE=DEFAULT&CTIME=2016-05-11-02-55-53
The cancellation announced Tuesday, hinted at after the Tennessee General Assembly passed a new law letting therapists decline to see patients based on religious values and personal principles, is aimed at preventing similar measures elsewhere.
"Our message to other states is don't introduce bills that are essentially legalizing discrimination," said Richard Yep, the organization's CEO. "It is discriminating against those who are least able to fight back."
The conference would have brought between 3,500 to 4,000 people to Nashville, he said. The Nashville Convention & Visitors Corp. estimates that it would have generated $2.5 million in direct visitor spending and $444,609 in tax revenue for the city and the state of Tennessee.
Read more: hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/U/US_LGBT_RIGHTS_COUNSELING_LAW?SITE=AP&SECTION=HOME&TEMPLATE=DEFAULT&CTIME=2016-05-11-02-55-53