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Last updated on Wednesday, March 25, 2015
(UNDATED) - As Governor Pence prepares to sign a “religious freedom” bill into law, the leader of one of the largest annual events in the state suggests it might drive them away.
The owner and CEO of GenCon sent a letter to the governor, pointing out that attendees to the gaming convention in Indianapolis are comprised of many "different ethnicities, cultures, beliefs, sexual orientations, gender identities, abilities and socio-economic backgrounds."
Adrian Swartout ended her brief letter with a criticism of what supporters call the Religious Freedom Restoration Act, which gained final approval in the Senate on Tuesday. "Legislation that could allow for a refusal of service or discrimination against our attendees will have a direct negative impact on the state's economy, and will factor in our decision-making on hosting the convention in the state of Indiana in future years."
GenCon drew 56,000 visitors to Indy last year, with attendance growing virtually every year since it arrived in 2003. Swartout says the convention generates more than $50 million in economic activity for the state each year.
GenCon is under contract to the Indiana Convention Center through 2020, and Chris Gahl with Visit Indy says neither side has a way of getting out of the contract early. But Swartout's letter has been circulated by many gamers on social media, and it was also pushed out on Twitter by sci-fi and gaming guru Wil Wheaton, who attends GenCon almost every year.
The Senate voted 40-to-10 along political party lines to send the bill (SB 101) to the governor's desk, and Pence said he was eager to sign it.
Supporters say it will not lead to discrimination by business owners, as that would not be a "compelling government interest" for religious freedom. But some evangelical supporters, like Eric Miller with the group Advance America, claim the bill will help protect "Christian bakers, florists and photographers" from being "punished for refusing to participate in a homosexual marriage."
Many large employers also lobbied against the bill, saying it sends the wrong message to employees moving to Indiana from other states.
"The Governor has been clear on where he stands on this issue and we don't have anything to add at this time," said Pence's press secretary Kara Brooks when asked for comment on the letter.
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