As
the Tennessee State House prepares to hold a vote next Wednesday on HB
1840, a groundswell of outraged Tennesseans have spoken out against the
discriminatory bill because of the serious unintended consequences it
would have for the state.
The bill – also known as “Hate Bill 1840”
– would permit Professional Counselors to deny counseling and mental
health services to clients based on the provider’s religious beliefs.
This would undermine the American Counseling Association’s existing
ethical guidelines, put thousands of vulnerable Tennesseans seeking
counseling at risk, and set a dangerous precedent of discrimination. It
would also be bad for Tennessee’s economic strength, as we’ve seen in
states like North Carolina and Georgia where discriminatory legislation
has been met with outcries from the business community.
A new story from Public News Service
highlights the opposition to this dangerous legislation from groups
including the American Counseling Association (ACA), the American
Foundation for Suicide Prevention (AFSP), and the Tennessee Equality
Project.
The text of the story is reprinted below, and audio is available here.
Experts Blast TN Bill That Allows Counselors to Deny Service
March 31, 2016
NASHVILLE,
Tenn. - Tennessee lawmakers are considering legislation that would
allow counselors to deny services and refer clients based on the
provider's religious beliefs.
The
bill, HB 1840, is prompting such national groups as the American
Counseling Association (ACA) and American Foundation for Suicide
Prevention (AFSP) to speak out against the legislation.
Art
Terrazas, ACA director of government affairs, said this is the first
piece of legislation nationwide that seeks to nullify a portion of the
counseling profession's code of ethics.
"We're
getting singled out in a state that, really, we see has a lot of mental
health shortage areas," said Terrazas. "And if that person can't seek
treatment from a counselor because the counselor decides to deny them
service, then that person is going to suffer from that."
According
to Terrazas, ethical guidelines mandate that counselors treat a person
when they seek help regardless of the person's age, culture, identity,
sexual orientation, immigration or socioeconomic status.
HB 1840's companion bill, SB 1556, has already passed the state Senate and is awaiting action by the House.
Supporters of the legislation say the bill protects the constitutional rights of providers.
Chris
Sanders, executive director of the Tennessee Equality Project, said
aside from the legislation violating a professional code of ethics, it's
important to remember the number of Tennesseans who live in rural
communities where alternative counseling options may not be available.
"If
counselors begin to turn them away, it may be several miles for them to
get to the next counselor," said Sanders. "And in a crisis when they're
reaching out and ready to get help, being turned away is the most
devastating thing that can happen to them."
Terrazas
added, in a time when there are regular instances of someone in need of
mental help harming themselves or others, it is imperative to make sure
counseling is readily available when someone asks for help.
"Look,
everybody is somebody's child, somebody's brother, somebody's sister,
somebody's grandchild," he said. "And when something happens to them if
they harm themselves or harm other people, that is going to have an
impact."
The American Foundation for Suicide Prevention released a statement expressing its opposition to the legislation.
It
reads in part, "There are not enough mental health providers in our
country, and we need all of them to practice what they've been trained
to do. The lives of the people of Tennessee depend on them."
For more information about HB 1840 go to www.StopHateBill1840.com.
