The Tennessee General Assembly recently voted to pass HB 1840/SB 1556. Also known as Hate Bill 1840, HB1840 will permit counselors to deny services and refer clients based on the provider's "strongly held beliefs." Not only is the proposed legislation discriminatory in nature, but it is also an unnecessary government intrusion that could result in costly unintended consequences for the state of Tennessee. Today, national and state leaders gathered on a press call to discuss the implications of this harmful legislation and call on Governor Haslam to do the right thing and veto the bill.

Nashville, TN—As the House prepares to vote tomorrow on HB1840, state legislators joined the American Counseling Association and the Tennessee Equality Project at a press conference today to discuss the negative effects of House Bill 1840. HB 1840, also known as Hate Bill 1840, would permit counselors to deny services and refer clients based on the provider's "strongly held religious beliefs." Not only is the proposed legislation discriminatory in nature, but it is also an unnecessary government intrusion that could result in costly unintended consequences for the state of Tennessee– for the hundreds of thousands of state residents whose reliance on accessible and professional counseling services could be harmed; for the state's eligibility for federal healthcare funding that could be jeopardized by the discriminatory nature of this legislation; and for the bottom line of Tennessee small businesses and the state's tourism and convention industries, which could be negatively affected if Tennessee becomes "the next" state to enter into the contentious national debate surrounding LGBTQ rights and religious freedom legislation

Nashville, TN - April 1, 2016 - This week, clergy from across the state added their voice to the growing outcry over Tennessee House Bill 1840, also known as Hate Bill 1840. Hate Bill 1840 would permit counselors to deny services and refer clients based on the provider's "strongly held religious beliefs." Not only is the proposed legislation discriminatory in nature, but it is also an unnecessary government intrusion that could result in costly unintended consequences for the state of Tennessee.

Nashville, Tennessee - March 30, 2016 - Today, the American Counseling Association (ACA), Tennessee Equality Project, the Counselor Education Program, the Tennessee Association of Marriage and Family Therapists, and other outraged Tennesseans gathered on a press call to discuss the various unintended consequences of Tennessee House Bill 1840, which would permit Counselors to deny services and refer clients based on the provider's "strongly held religious beliefs." The proposed legislation is an unnecessary government intrusion into a counseling profession that already adheres to a strict code of ethics, as well as a "solution" in search of a problem.

In a number of states throughout the country during the past year, so-called "religious freedom" bills have targeted state LGBT residents. In the process, as the Washington Post described today, states such as Indiana, North Carolina, and Georgia have seen their contentious debates negatively affect their state's reputation and damaged or endangered their state businesses, tourism, and convention industries.