Dear WMHCA members,
Please consider contacting Governor Bill Haslam’s office to voice support for his veto of SB1556 and HB 1840. This is a last ditch effort to prevent legislation passing that would allow counselors to refuse services to clients on the basis of their personal beliefs and values, which runs contrary to the ACA (2016) Code of Ethics, section A.11.b. This legislation would allow counselors to refuse to see clients based on the counselor’s personal beliefs, and to refer them elsewhere on the basis of issues such as identifying as LGBTQQIA. This bill has been described by the American Counseling Association as an “unprecedented attack” on the counseling profession. Tennessee is the only state to pass such a law.
It is fairly easy to voice your support for Governor Bill Haslam’s veto. Please call his office at the phone number below, and ask for a message to be sent to his office in support of his veto of SB 1556/HB 1840. Remember that TN is 2-3 hours later (Central Time or Eastern Time, depending on the part of the state), so try calling no later than 2:00 p.m. Pacific Time. You can also email the Governor’s office using a contact form available at the website below.
Phone number to Governor Haslam’s office: (615) 741-2001
Email contact form: http://www.tn.gov/governor/topic/contact
Thanks for taking action on behalf of the counseling profession!
Thom Field, PhD, LMHC, NCC, ACS
WMHCA President, 2015-2017