Labor union becomes first to pull conference from Indy

A national labor union said Monday that it will pull its October conference out of Indianapolis, marking the first convention to change its plans for a visit based on the passage of the Religious Freedom Restoration Act.

The AFSCME Women's Conference was due to bring more than 700 women to Indianapolis for a three-day convention that was expected to generate half a million dollars in spending, said Chris Gahl, vice president of Visit Indy, a local tourism organization.

The AFSCME, which represents state, county and other municipal employees from around the county, said its decision was a direct result of Gov. Mike Pence signing a bill into law that the union says "legalizes discrimination."

"This un-American law allowing businesses to refuse service to gay and lesbian customers sets Indiana and our nation back decades in the struggle for civil rights," AFSCME President Lee Saunders said in a statement.

The conference was to be held at the JW Marriott Indianapolis, which must now find a way to fill a weekend's worth of rooms this fall. Hotel officials did not respond to requests for comment.

Gahl said the AFSCME's decision was "painful" and it will require his organization to search for other visitors to fill the void. "The convention business is extremely competitive with other major cities vying for each and every meeting," Gahl said.

The AFSCM, which has 1.6-million members and is headquartered in Washington, D.C., holds its women's conference every two years. The last two were staged in Denver, where 700 people attended, and in Milwaukee, where 900 attended.

For the conference to come to Indianapolis was "a big deal", said Carli Stevenson, a spokesperson for the Indiana-Kentucky affiliate of the AFSCME. And her members were looking forward to showcasing the city to their fellow union members. Still, she said, she supports the decision to move it to another, as yet undetermined, city.

"Our members come from all different backgrounds," Stevenson said. "We believe that our members as well as every person has the right to be treated fairly and we certainly support the decision."

Gahl said Visit Indy is reaching out to other organizations with conventions on the calendar for this year to reassure them that the city will be welcoming to all convention-goers. But, he said, tourism officials are fighting a perception that contradicts the Hoosier hospitality that is one of the city's best selling points.

"We know that there will be other cities to welcome them with open arms," Gahl said. "So it is painful to lose them."

Call Robert King at (317) 444-6089. Follow him on Twitter at @RbtKing.