A window sticker on a downtown Indianapolis business shows its objection to a discriminatory bill passed by the Indiana Legislature on March 25, 2015. SOURCE: AP/Michael Conroy
Washington, D.C. —(ENEWSPF)–April 2, 2015. The national backlash that has followed the passage of Indiana’s recent license-to-discriminate bill could cost the state as much as $250 million in economic activity and counting, according to an analysis done by the Center for American Progress. Experts from CAP analyzed publicly available estimates of the economic impact of lost or at-risk business activity or events that have already either publicly announced their intention to pull business from the state or stated they are considering moving events.
“In just the past few days, Indiana’s license to discriminate against LGBT Americans has already put one-quarter of a billion dollars at risk for the state’s economy,” said Laura E. Durso, Director of CAP’s LGBT Research and Communications Project. “And that number will only climb as long as state officials insist on disingenuously using religious freedom as a ruse to discriminate against LGBT Americans. A broad coalition of businesses, faith communities, and organizations have taken a stand against this law. It is time for officials in Indiana and the roughly 30 other states where LGBT discrimination is legal to take notice. You cannot be pro-business and pro-discrimination at the same time.”
Below are some of the organizations and businesses that have pledged to boycott Indiana and the economic impact they could have on the state.
Lost:
Angie’s List: $40 million
American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees, or AFSCME, conference: $500,000
At risk:
Big Ten football, 2016–2021: $96 million ($16 million per year)
Big Ten men’s basketball, 2020: $8 million
Big Ten women’s basketball, 2017–2021: $10 million ($2 million per year)
NCAA Men’s Final Four, 2021: $71 million
NCAA Women’s Final Four, 2016: $25 million
Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) 2017 General Assembly: $5.9 million
The Center for American Progress has been at the forefront of research on legal discrimination against LGBT Americans. The organization released a major report late last year showing the scope and magnitude of the problem and has advocated for the creation of federal comprehensive nondiscrimination legislation.
Click here for more information on Indiana’s current economic risk.
Click here and here for more information on nondiscrimination efforts.
Source: www.americanprogress.org
