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Bill would let counselors refuse LGBT clients

A bill proposed in Tennessee would let psychological counselors refuse to treat gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender clients [1], prompting the Raw Story to run the headline: “Tennessee bill allows Christian counselors to reject suicidal LGBT students,” the Huffington Post reports. While arguably sensational, the headline is true. Tennessee’s HB 1185 would prohibit universities from taking disciplinary action against student counselors who, based on religious objections, wish to refer LGBT clients to others. The bill claims student counselors are protected based on a constitutional prohibition of religious discrimination, while basically letting counselors discriminate against clients based on their sexual orientation. State Rep. John J. DeBerry Jr. (D-Memphis) brought the bill before the House. He earlier supported a “don’t say gay [2]” bill, which would prohibit the discussion of so-called alternative lifestyles in state-run elementary schools. He said parents should choose how to educate their children…

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