Tennessee Governor Gets Counselor Religious Freedom Bill

The Tennessee general assembly has passed a bill allowing mental health counselors to refuse service to patients based on religious grounds.
The bill is on the desk of Governor Bill Haslam, who’ll decide whether to sign or veto that legislation.
What are local counselors saying about it?

That bill protects therapists and counselors from civil lawsuits and criminal action if they deny services to clients whose religious beliefs conflict with their own. It passed by a 68-22 vote in the house Wednesday.

According to bill sponsor, Sen. Jack Johnson, in 2014, the American counseling association changed its universal code of ethics to say that a counselor must refrain from referring a client or perspective client to another counselor based solely on a personal belief

SEN. JACK JOHNSON, SPONSOR “Its the American counseling association who’s discriminating here, It’s not Tennessee or the Tennessee General Assembly.”

Opponents say it is an attempt to deny service to lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people.
Counselors in Chattanooga we spoke with say they are focused on their patients, not legislation.

KENT BLOCKER, COUNSELOR “I’m a Christian, but I’m also a counselor. And so, therefore ..I have been doing this for 45 years and I have yet to turn anybody away because of in what they believe and what I believe.”

Dr. Tom Cory says he respects people’s religious beliefs.

DR. TOM CORY, COUNSELOR “..if you’re offering services to the public, then you need to be able to offer services to the public…and not, from my point of view discriminate because you don’t happen to agree with someone’s personal views.”

KENT BLOCKER “I’ve seen people of all faiths, of all beliefs, of all, you name it, because I’m comfortable with that.”

DR. CORY “I’m very uncomfortable with the idea of passing a law that says because I don’t agree with you, I won’t offer you services.”

The House bill was sponsored by Republican Rep. Dan Howell of Bradley county—one of many being challenged around the country.
The Governor of Georgia vetoed a similar bill last week.