Indy tourism agency distances itself from RFRA criticism
Indianapolis tourism agency Visit Indy has responded to national criticism over Indiana State’s Religious Freedom Restoration Act by expanding LGBT-friendly content on its website.
The Visit Indy website has included an updated LGBT guide to the city highlighting gay and lesbian friendly businesses and has joined city mayor Gregory Ballard in opposing the bill with the message: "No legislation can take away the ethos of Indy, its ‘Hoosier Hospitality.’ Indy is built on its people, who are warm, welcoming, and inclusive of all."
"Visit Indy proudly joins Mayor Greg Ballard in opposing RFRA."
Vice president for Visit Indy, Chris Gahl, said the agency has featured a gay-friendly guide to the city for many years, but the rebranding has given it more prominence in response to the passing of the bill.
"We are overly aware that there is a perception that Indianapolis is no longer welcoming as a city, no longer inclusive as a city because the state has passed a new law," Gahl said.
"So we want to do everything we can do as a city within a state to ensure our visitors, no matter their age, ethnicity, gender, religion, so that everyone and anyone feels welcome."
State tourism continues to take a hit because of the divisive bill with a number of large convention cancelations.
The Christian Church Disciples of Christ, which has its headquarters in Indianapolis, is the latest group to pull its 2017 convention out of the state.
In Arkansas, lawmakers are busy rewriting their own Religious Freedom bill in order to head off a similar blacklash.
Starwood Hotels & Resorts has weighed in on the controversy in Arkansas, delivering an open letter to governor Asa Hutchinson saying the passing of a RFRA bill will have a ‘destructive impact on state tourism.’
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Editor for TravelMole North America and Asia pacific regions. Ray is a highly experienced (15+ years) skilled journalist and editor predominantly in travel, hospitality and lifestyle working with a huge number of major market-leading brands. He has also cover in-depth news, interviews and features in general business, finance, tech and geopolitical issues for a select few major news outlets and publishers.
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