Discussion: North America's Largest Tabletop Game Convention Tells IN Gov. Not To Sign Anti-Gay Bill

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GenCon and other groups need to ask themselves a simple question: If a state passed a law allowing people a “religious exemption” from serving people of color, would they even for a moment consider holding their convention in that state? If the answer is “no” than so should be your answer if you replace “people of color” with “LGBTs”.It’s that simple.

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I’m guessing no sooner than Pence signs this legislation into law, a suit will be filed on constitutional grounds challenging the way the State is intentionally legislating discrimination against a protected class of individuals.

Republicans seem to use the same religious rationale as guise and deception for all things they refuse to deal with. Its become a common practice to avoid dealing fairly with all kinds of people they’re quick to disparage, by making laws which force people out of their personal line of sight.

Everything Republicans don’t like eventually falls under that same rubric. I can’t see how this law will survive in the long run. Just as lawsuits were filed against many Jim Crow laws, this now is looking to be the New Jim Crow set up by the same bigoted assholes.

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They should move and break their contract.

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Time for the NFL to warn Indiana that there will be no future SuperBowls or Pro combines in Indiana if this bill becomes law. Worked in Arizona, should work in Indiana too.

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This is the industry I work in, and I count the folks who run GenCon as personal friends. I could not be more proud of them. It’s hard to over-estimate how much $ GenCon brings to the local economy every year. According to the downtown shops I interact with, GenCon brings in way more $ than even the Indy 500 (which isn’t located downtown).

I’d feel bad for the local stores/restaurants if GenCon moves - they treat us very well. So I’m hoping those local shops also apply some pressure.

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I’m in for a couple of sawbucks!

LD

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“Gen Con is under contract to hold the conference in Indianapolis through 2020.”

So what? RepubLIEclowns renege on contracts all the time… Simply buy it out and be done…

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I’m sure if the truly mean what they say the lawyers are reading the fine print of the contract.

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A question: Gen Con may have a contract with the city of India-NO-place, but I doubt that the vendors do… What would happen if you held a convention…And nobody came?

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They could probably break the contract if they wanted to due to “changing regulations” (a pretty common “out” for these types of contracts).

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What I want to know is whether these anti-gay establishments will be required to post a pink triangle in their windows or not?

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For many your short run is their long run. That is the problem with allowing assholes even one day in the sun…and, I’m a very sad and embarrassed by my state government Hoosier.

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I’ve been attending GenCon for 20 years now, and nothing would make me happier than moving it out of Indiana in response to this bill. Indiana used to be a nice place to visit, but has been becoming more and more irritating to drive through, and stay in with all it’s in-your-face religion. Loss of the vast amount of money GenCon injects into the Indianapolis economy would be a satisfying slap in the face to the bigots that have been electing these duplicitous tools into office.

@rcarlosnyc I know I’d be OK with GenCon just not happening in response to this law, we’d just make Origins the largest show of the year. It’d be sad, but we’re ready to game on. :smile:

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GenCon requires a LOT of hotel space and restaurant capacity. A LOT. I’m not sure anywhere close to Vermont other than NYC would have the capacity required, and NYC would frankly be far too expensive for many gamers to attend a conference there.

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There’s already a couple cons there, but I was mostly being sillish…

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I know a place with a big enough venue, a place that’s used to hosting half a million guests each year for a sporting event, one that has more than enough hotels to accommodate visitors, a foodie paradise, a liberal city, and one that has the 11th largest percentage of LGBTs in the country…Louisville, KY

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Come to San Diego.

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Not sure; are GLBT a constitutionally recognized protected class?

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Frustration of purpose.

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I’m going to continue never having a reason to go to Indiana if this bill is signed into law.

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