In light of recent legislative actions in Tennessee, the American Counseling Association (ACA) is currently “weighing options” regarding the location of the 2017 ACA Conference and Expo planned for Nashville, TN. On April 27, 2016, legislators in Tennessee passed a bill that says counselors can refuse care to anyone who has different religious, or “strongly held,” beliefs than them.
A huge majority of Tennessee residents subscribe to religious beliefs that view being LGBTQ as a “sin.” Meaning that when HB 1840/SB 1556 passed on April 27, 2016, a huge majority of counselors can now legally turn away LGBTQ folks who are in need of their care. The bill also means that atheists, divorced people, and other "sinners" could be refused help.
THE LAW GOES DIRECTLY AGAINST PROFESSIONAL STANDARDS IN THE FIELD. The American Counseling Association’s Code of Ethics says that counselors may not refuse clients on grounds of “...Religion/spirituality... gender identity, sexual orientation, marital/partnership status…”. The ACA has said that this bill is an unprecedented attack on their professional Code of Ethics. The best outcomes in counseling happen when the counselor/client experience is safe and protected. The client should feel comfortable being totally open and honest, as that is when the best results occur. This law means that a client's honesty could result in their counselor kicking them to the curb.
So while ACA CEO Richard Yep acknowledges this conflict, why hasn’t ACA already taken a firm and definitive stand that they will NOT hold the April 5-6, 2017 Conference and Expo in Nashville, Tennessee as previously planned?
Sign this petition to tell the American Counseling Association that it’s NOT OK to hold the 2017 annual ACA Conference and Expo in Tennessee and that you would drop your ACA membership if appropriate action is not taken on this important matter!
