A hospitality industry spokesman today spoke out against Sen. Linda Collins-Smith’s bill to discriminate against transgender people in public restroom and changing room use. It was pulled down in Senate committee yesterday, but likely could come back up again next week.

Rolf Wilkin, who owns a Eureka Springs restaurant, said he sent this letter today to Collins-Smith:

Advertisement

I am Rolf Wilkin, the owner and founder of Eureka Pizza in Northwest Arkansas and the River Valley. I also serve as the President of the Arkansas Restaurant Association and I am Chairman of the Board of the Arkansas Hospitality Association. Both Associations are opposed to a “Bathroom Bill”.

Hospitality is the 2nd largest industry in Arkansas. Hospitality employs over 100,000 Arkansans. Approximatly 9% of all jobs in Arkansas are in Hospitality. Please don’t put thousands of jobs at risk with a divisive and unenforceable “Bathroom Bill”.

Your bill includes restrooms within public parks and bike trails that are typically unattended. We already have countless laws that punish criminal activity.

Please withdraw your bill. Tourists from around the world are coming to Arkansas. Let’s keep welcoming all visitors with hospitality and friendship. Arkansas is a great state and we have much natural beauty and heritage to share- please don’t force people to turn away!

Arkansas Times: Your voice in the fight

Are you tired of watered-down news and biased reporting? The Arkansas Times has been fighting for truth and justice for 50 years. As an alternative newspaper in Little Rock, we are tough, determined, and unafraid to take on powerful forces. With over 63,000 Facebook followers, 58,000 Twitter followers, 35,000 Arkansas blog followers, and 70,000 daily email blasts, we are making a difference. But we can't do it without you. Join the 3,400 paid subscribers who support our great journalism and help us hire more writers. Sign up for a subscription today or make a donation of as little as $1 and help keep the Arkansas Times feisty for years to come.

Previous article School voucher bill fails in House Next article Thursday’s open line: Plus Park Plaza’s new rule on young people