INDIANAPOLIS (AP) -
The CEO of a massive gamers’ convention that threatened to leave Indiana
earlier this year over a divisive religious objections law said Thursday
that organizers are “shopping the show” to other cities and could relocate
if lawmakers don’t expand protections for gays and lesbians.
Cities across the
U.S. have courted convention organizers since Republican Gov. Mike Pence
signed the initial bill in March, provoking national uproar from critics who
believed it would sanction discrimination against gay people. Backlash
prompted lawmakers to make changes forbidding discrimination, but they
stopped short of extending civil rights protections to the LGBT community,
as some cities - including Indianapolis- have done.
Adrian Swartout,
the CEO of Gen Con, told The Associated Press Thursday on the convention’s
opening day that a competitive offer from a state that grants gays and
lesbians that status could be a “catalyst” pushing the event to relocate
when its contract expires in 2020. Chicago has shown interest and Orlando
also is a possibility, she said.
Even if the state
did not pass the religious objections law, Swartout said it would be routine
for organizers to seek other offers.
“If we have
opportunity to be in places that have state protections, that might make the
deal,” Swartout said. “This is important to us.”
Pence opposes
proposals to give lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgendered people statewide
civil rights protections. When recently asked about the possibility of Gen
Con leaving over LGBT rights, Pence refused to answer.
Gen Con’s departure
could mean a significant drop in revenue. The convention draws thousands of
costumed damsels, dungeon masters and roll-play game aficionados to
Indianapolis each year. Last year, more than 56,000 people visited, bringing
in an estimated $67 million in revenue.
Speaking of the
possibility of Gen Com relocating, Chris Gahl, vice president of the tourism
booster group Visit Indy, said “there are many factors at play. One of which
is their desire to have civil protections.”
Inside the
convention, many were keenly aware of the debate over the religious freedom
law.
“There’s a
stereotype about the Midwest as being country folk and rubes, which I know
is not true” said T-shirt vendor Brian Callahan, 43, of Portland, Oregon.
But he added that the law, “just helps reinforce” that idea.
Dressed in a
head-to-toe suit of chain mail, Rhode Island physics teacher Ann Walkup said
laws that do not fully protect gays and lesbians are anathema to the
inclusive culture of Gen Con.
“I would certainly
understand if Gen Con up and moved to somewhere else that epitomized the
core of what we represent,” said Walkup, 33.
Another attendee
told stories of discrimination experienced in the wake of the religious
objection law. Emily Kubisz, of Lafayette, said a customer at her job
refused to work with her during the uproar over the bill.
“The whole LGBT
community has felt the bad sides of that law,” said Kubisz, 42, who
self-identified as LGBT. “It gave people license to be more discriminatory.
They felt legitimized because of this law.”
Swartout says
factors besides just the state’s LGBT laws will be considered when deciding
the convention’s future location. But, she said, those laws will be “one
part of the equation.”
Recently she met
with Republican House Speaker Brian Bosma, who wasn’t committed to passing
new legislation but told her lawmakers were discussing the idea.
In the meantime,
she’s willing to be patient.
“It’s appropriate
for all of us to give (lawmakers) some room to try to work this out,” she
said.