Convention business at risk
Speaking at the Travel Weekly Leadership Forum in New Orleans
today, New Orleans Convention & Visitors Bureau CEO Stephen Perry said that
when the state of Louisiana's proposed Marriage and Conscience Act went to
committee, 80-85% of the city's “most important corporate customers” called to
say that if it were to pass, "it’s unlikely we’re going to be able to come
back here.” Read More
The New Orleans
Convention and Visitors Bureau has distanced itself from an executive order by
Louisiana Gov. Bobby Jindal that vows to protect those who act in accordance
with their religious beliefs that same-sex marriage is wrong.
Jindal issued the
executive order after a bill with similar provisions, the Marriage and
Conscience Act, was
voted down in a Louisiana state legislature committee.
A joint statement from the CVB and the New Orleans Tourism Marketing
Corporation, meanwhile, emphasized that the city remains "exceptionally
tolerant and open.”
The executive order, it said "is largely a
political statement by our conservative governor in support of his
national position on the issue. ... It is important for those who visit
Louisiana to know that its effect in essence is that of a political
campaign document."
The order prohibits the state from taking specific actions, such as revoking a business licenses or tax standing against people or businesses that, as the tourism groups put it, "take certain actions in compliance with their religious beliefs solely as related to same-sex marriage.”
Similar legislation, such as the Religious Freedom Restoration Act in
Indiana, have created heated outcry. New York state issued a ban against
nonessential government travel to Indiana after that bill was signed
into law. That law was later amended, and the travel ban was rescinded.
New York state Assembly Member Daniel O'Donnell Wednesday requested
that New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo again take action. "It's time to instate
a travel ban on Louisiana," he said.
In its statement, the New Orleans CVB called
the bill “bad business for Louisiana” and said that Jindal’s decree is illegal
because Louisiana’s constitution “prohibits an executive order from enacting
substantive law.”
“We have heard
extensively from corporate and association customers valued at hundreds of
millions of dollars to Louisiana and its citizens, that they want to see issues
similar to those that exploded in Indiana and Arkansas handled in sensitive,
tolerant ways,” the CVB said.
Further, the CVB
said the bill “sought to address an issue that does not exist in our state —
persecution of business owners by the state when practicing religious freedom.
In fact, there is not one case pending in Louisiana of discrimination on the
basis of views held on same-sex marriage … a strong statement on the openness,
hospitality, and commitment to equality of all Louisiana businesses."
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This report was updated May 21 at 11:22 a.m. Eastern.