American Counseling Association Relocates Nashville Conference Over Tennessee’s Anti-LGBT Law 

On Tuesday, the American Counseling Association (ACA) announced that it would pull its 2017 Conference & Expo out of Nashville, Tennessee, due to the state’s new anti-LGBT legislation. Signed into law in April, HB 1840/SB 1556 allows a therapist or counselor to refuse to treat clients whose “goals, outcomes, or behaviors… conflict with a sincerely held principle” of that mental health professional, endangering vulnerable Tennesseans most in need of mental healthcare and treatment. “This was not an easy decision to make,” ACA CEO Richard Yep said in a statement. “After thoughtful discussion, the ACA Governing Council made the difficult—and courageous—decision on behalf of our membership… By relocating from Tennessee, ACA is standing up to this discriminatory law and we remain committed in the battle to ensure that this law does not become the national standard.”  Mr. Yep elaborated on the ACA’s opposition to HB 1840/SB 1556 in video to its members:

Source: American Counseling Association Relocates Nashville Conference Over Tennessee’s Anti-LGBT Law — Protect Thy Neighbor