NASHVILLE – Tennessee is beginning to experience a backlash over its controversial new law allowing mental health counselors and therapists to turn away LGBT clients.
The new Tennessee law allows mental health professionals with “sincerely held” religious or philosophical objections to reject lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender clients whose goals are at odds with counselors.
Gov. Bill Haslam on April 27 signed the bill passed by fellow Republicans in the Tennessee General Assembly.
On Tuesday, the American Counseling Association, which fought the legislation and dubbed it “Hate Bill 1840,” announced on its website the group has canceled its planned 2017 national convention in Nashville.
ACA officials, who had previously said they were considering the action, said they are now actively looking for another convention site.