American Counseling Association Targets Speaker Harwell and Other State Legislators in Statewide Paid Media Campaign Against HB 1840

Ads condemn "Hate Bill" that would give counselors permission to discriminate as bad for business and bad for Tennessee

March 30, 2016 – In anticipation of legislative action this week on HB 1840, today the American Counseling Association (ACA) launched a statewide paid media campaign targeting Speaker Harwell and other State Legislators across Tennessee including:

• Tri-Cities - Timothy Hill, Matthew Hill, Gary Hicks, 
• Gatlinburg - Andrew Farmer
• Chattanooga - Ron Travis, Gerald McCormick, Patsy Hazelwood  
• Knoxville - Bill Dunn, Harry Brooks, Martin Daniel 
• Nashville - Beth Harwell, Glen Casada 
• Memphis - Mark White, Steve McManus, Jim Coley 
• Jackson - Jimmy Matlock

The ads tell Speaker Harwell and other State Legislators: "Don't follow NC, GA and IN: Business won't come to a state that discriminates" and "What is more private that a counseling session? Big Government Stay Out" and include a call to action to voters, "Tell Speaker Harwell that HB1840 is wrong."  The digital advertising campaign will reach approximately two million people across Tennessee via Facebook, local news sites, and other popular websites. 
       
    

Over the past few weeks, there has been a groundswell of outraged Tennesseans speaking out against "Hate Bill" 1840 that would permit Licensed (and unlicensed) Professional Counselors to deny services and refer clients based on the provider's "strongly held religious beliefs." 

"Passing this legislation is not only morally wrong and a dangerous precedent, but could also result in costly unintended consequences for Tennessee, including for the hundreds of thousands of state residents who rely on accessible and professional counseling services," said Art Terrazas, Director of Government Affairs at The American Counseling Association.  "As we've seen in states across the country, including most recently North Carolina and Georgia, discriminatory bills are bad for business.  Bills like HB 1840 hurt both the economic strength of the states in which they are passed, and, most importantly, the people victimized under the laws.  Tennessee can't afford Hate Bill 1840."    

HB 1840's companion bill, SB 1556, has passed the State Senate and is awaiting action by the House. This is the first time that a governmental entity of any kind has specifically targeted the American Counseling Association and attempted to undermine the counseling profession through legislation. 

For more information about HB 1840 go to www.StopHateBill1840.com.