Post by pavel on May 12, 2016 23:35:21 GMT -6
Second Convention Now Boycotting Tennessee Over Anti-Gay 'Religious Freedom' Law
Tennessee has lost its second convention in two days over Governor Bill Haslam's anti-gay "religious freedom" law, and this one may smart a bit more. Centers for Spiritual Living, a faith-based organization, is now boycotting Tennessee, citing HB 1840, which allows therapists and counselors to refuse service to clients based on their claimed sincerely held principles – including religious beliefs.
"When the legislation was sent over to the governor’s desk, we actually had great hopes that it would be vetoed and canceled," Kenn Gordon, spiritual leader for Centers for Spiritual Living, tells The Tennessean. "But it wasn’t, and so when he signed it into law that was the decision-point we made to pull out."
"There are a lot of LGBTQ people that are involved in the world, period, but (also) in our organization," said Gordon, who heads the "global community comprised of more than 400 spiritual communities, teaching chapters, study groups and other ministries in 30 countries." The organization has between 250,000 and 500,000 congregates.
"We did not think in the practice of openness and inclusivity that that law would serve them very well. They felt violated in the action of that, so we chose to take a principled stand. It's against what we hold to be true and believe. We believe in the equality of all humanity."
Read more: www.thenewcivilrightsmovement.com/davidbadash/second_convention_now_boycotting_tennessee_over_anti_gay_religious_freedom_law
Tennessee has lost its second convention in two days over Governor Bill Haslam's anti-gay "religious freedom" law, and this one may smart a bit more. Centers for Spiritual Living, a faith-based organization, is now boycotting Tennessee, citing HB 1840, which allows therapists and counselors to refuse service to clients based on their claimed sincerely held principles – including religious beliefs.
"When the legislation was sent over to the governor’s desk, we actually had great hopes that it would be vetoed and canceled," Kenn Gordon, spiritual leader for Centers for Spiritual Living, tells The Tennessean. "But it wasn’t, and so when he signed it into law that was the decision-point we made to pull out."
"There are a lot of LGBTQ people that are involved in the world, period, but (also) in our organization," said Gordon, who heads the "global community comprised of more than 400 spiritual communities, teaching chapters, study groups and other ministries in 30 countries." The organization has between 250,000 and 500,000 congregates.
"We did not think in the practice of openness and inclusivity that that law would serve them very well. They felt violated in the action of that, so we chose to take a principled stand. It's against what we hold to be true and believe. We believe in the equality of all humanity."
Read more: www.thenewcivilrightsmovement.com/davidbadash/second_convention_now_boycotting_tennessee_over_anti_gay_religious_freedom_law