The organisers of the world’s biggest tabletop and hobby convention, Gen Con in Indianapolis, have begun discussions on whether or not to stay in the state of Indiana following Governor Mike Pence’s decision to sign into law a bill that would make it legal for businesses to discriminate against customers on religious grounds.
Gen Con publicly expressed their disappointment with the bill earlier in the week and threatened to take their estimated $50 million annual economic impact and leave, saying that “Gen Con proudly welcomes a diverse attendee base, made up of different ethnicities, cultures, beliefs, sexual orientations, gender identities, abilities, and socio-economic backgrounds.”
“Legislation that could allow for refusal of service or discrimination against our attendees will have a direct negative impact on the state’s economy and, and will factor into our decision-making on hosting the convention in the state of Indiana in future year.”
Following the passage of the bill through the Indiana Senate however, Gen Con are actively discussing alternatives once their current five-year contract runs out.
“We have a contract with the city of Indianapolis through 2020,” says Gen Con CEO Adrian SwartOut. “What does the future hold for Gen Con in 2021 and beyond? Planning and bidding for our convention is a long-term process that begins five years prior to contract-term commencement. Discussions, whether to remain in Indy or move elsewhere, have begun.”
We’d like to take a moment to applaud Gen Con for standing up to do the right thing by opposing this sort of disgusting discrimination.
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