Nashville Mayor ‘Deeply Concerned’ About Revenue Lost Over Anti-LGBT Law

Nashville Mayor Megan Barry speaks during her inauguration Friday, Sept. 25, 2015, in Nashville, Tenn. Barry is Nashville's first female mayor. (AP Photo/Mark Humphrey)
Start your day with TPM.
Sign up for the Morning Memo newsletter

Nashville’s mayor is “deeply concerned” over the loss of tourist dollars coming into her city as a result of an anti-LGBT law passed by the Tennessee legislature, WKRN reported Sunday.

Mayor Megan Barry told the news station that at least three organizations—the American Counseling Association, the Human Rights Campaign, and the Centers for Spiritual Living—relocated their conferences as a result of the law, which allows counselors to refuse LGBT patients based on their “strongly held principles.”

“I am deeply concerned about the loss of revenue to our city because of action taken by the state legislature,” Barry said.

Tennessee’s LGBT community has cautioned that the law, which is the first of its kind in the nation, could have tragic results for young people coming to terms with their sexuality. The American Counseling Association deemed the law an “unprecedented attack” on the counseling profession.

Barry is hoping to preserve Nashville’s cosmopolitan, inclusive reputation despite the actions of state lawmakers.

“My message to the community of folks who want to visit Nashville is, ‘Come to Nashville,’” Barry told WKRN. “We are a warm and welcoming place, and we really don’t want to the city to be punished for things the state may do. So, we encourage people to still consider [coming] to Nashville.”

Latest Livewire
Comments
Masthead Masthead
Founder & Editor-in-Chief:
Executive Editor:
Managing Editor:
Associate Editor:
Editor at Large:
General Counsel:
Publisher:
Head of Product:
Director of Technology:
Associate Publisher:
Front End Developer:
Senior Designer: