In a letter to Arizona Gov. Jan Brewer, the National Gay & Lesbian Chamber of Commerce® (NGLCC) expressed its disappointment with passage of its controversial law that would allow police to stop and arrest people they suspect to be in the country illegally.
Brewer signed Senate Bill 1070 into law in April, sparking a national debate about immigration reform and unleashing a wave of criticism of the law that critics charge will prompt harassment and discrimination against Hispanics, regardless of their citizenship.
In its letter, the NGLCC noted that the law "clearly targets a community that is so often disregarded as warranting positive attention and concern."
The NGLCC's letter said the law would have a negative effect on Arizona's local communities, including the business community, as many corporations, associations and tourists express their dissatisfaction by boycotting the state.
Reports from state tourism officials are already confirming the disastrous economic effects. The city of Phoenix estimates it will lose as much as $90 million in hotel and convention business in the next five years. Meanwhile, the state's hotel and lodging group reported that there have been 23 canceled meetings or conferences at a cost of between $6 and $10 million since the bill was signed into law.
Due to NGLCC's objections, it also made clear in the letter that it will not consider the state of Arizona for any of its conventions, including the well-attended annual National Business and Leadership conference, until the law has been repealed.
"Until your state repeals Senate Bill 1070, the economic boon brought to any community that hosts our national conference will not be possible in Arizona," the letter states.
The NGLCC also noted that it has informed its affiliate LGBT chambers of commerce in Phoenix and Tucson of its decision to pull Arizona out of consideration for its annual conferences.
To read the NGLCC's full letter to Governor Brewer, download it here.
