Geeks for gay rights: $50 million gaming convention threatens to leave Indiana over anti-LGBT bill
The organizers of one of the biggest conventions in Indiana suggested they would take the event out of the state if Gov. Mike Pence (R) authorizes a bill that could allow businesses to discriminate against LGBT customers, Polygon reported on Tuesday.
GenCon LLC chief executive officer Adrian Swartout released a letter he sent to Pence (PDF) touting the convention’s history of serving “a diverse attendee base, made up of different ethnicities, cultures, beliefs, sexual orientations, gender identities, abilities, and socio-economic backgrounds.”
Swartout said that the gaming convention drew 56,000 people to the Indianapolis Convention Center last year, and brings in $50 million worth of business on an annual basis. Though the event is under contract to be held in Indianapolis through 2020, Swartout said, Pence signing Senate Bill 101 into law “will factor into our decision-making on hosting the convention in the state of Indiana in future years.”
According to the Indianapolis Star, the bill would prevent state and local governments from “substantially burdening” state residents regarding their religious practices without a compelling interest.
Read more: http://www.rawstory.com/rs/2015/03/geeks-for-gay-rights-50-million-gaming-convention-threatens-to-leave-indiana-over-anti-lgbt-bill/
Cros-posted in the LGBT Group.