Make it clear that Indiana’s Religious Freedom Bill is Unacceptable to Gen Con Attendees

This year at Gen Con, those of us socializing, eating, drinking, laughing, gaming, and networking at restaurants and other businesses are faced with a new reality: those restaurants might turn us away based on “sincerely held religious beliefs.”

The Gen Con Gaymers offer little ribbons declaring support for equality, and hold various events. Whether you do it through them or find your own way, I encourage people to make it clear to the Indiana government and any in the city of Indianapolis who sees you that this is unacceptable. Of course, it is not these individual business owners who made this decision, but they will now have the right to act based on it. I don’t think it’s likely that any will be unwise enough to do this during the convention, but they could, and that is frightening.

You can write to the governor, members of their state government, and even to local businesses. You can wear a little equality symbol. You can even ask business owners up front if they welcome all customers. I’m almost tempted to suggest an organized protest of the bill at Gen Con, but I’m not sure if that’s a good idea.

We can take heart in that the Gen Con leadership has made it very clear that they welcome all Con goers, and that they are dismayed by these developments (http://www.wthr.com/story/28603977/gen-con-ceo-rethinking-indiana-as-host-site-if-religious-freedom-bill-becomes-law).