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The
University Of Southern Indiana (USI) has announced that it will offer domestic
partner benefits for university faculty and staff effective January 1, 2010.
USI
joins a chorus of other state universities in providing domestic partner
including Ball State University, Indiana University, Indiana State University, Indiana
University-Purdue University Indianapolis, and Purdue University. Other Indiana
private institutions of higher education offering similar benefits include Butler
University, DePauw University, Goshen College, Manchester College, Saint
Joseph’s College, Saint Mary’s College, University of Notre Dame, and
Valparaiso University.
Indiana
Equality congratulates and thanks USI President Ray Hobbs and the University of
Southern Indiana for this decision. IE
also thanks the many individuals who advocated for this policy with members of
the USI board of trustees and administration.
A
special thanks goes to the Tri-State
Alliance for the organization’s advocacy and countless years of service on
behalf of the LGBT community of southwestern Indiana.
Proponents
Use Special Legislative Session to Fundraise
The
Marriage Discrimination Amendment – House Joint Resolution 3 – had a quiet
death during the recently concluded special Session of the Indiana General
Assembly.
Authored by State Representatives Eric Turner (Republican – Marion) and David Cheatham (Democrat – North Vernon), HJR-3 was assigned to the House Rules and Legislative Procedures Committee which took no action on the proposal. The proposal was one of nearly a dozen bills offered that had no relevance to the stated purpose of the special session -- to develop a new state budget.
While acknowledging the sole purpose of special session, the Indiana Family Institute (IFI), a chief proponent of the Marriage Discrimination Amendment, nonetheless advocated for introduction of the proposal. Recognizing the extreme low possibility of passage, it can only be that IFI took this opportunity to fundraise – and at the expense of Hoosier taxpayers.
This attempt to put a discriminatory proposal in front of the real needs of Indiana citizens demonstrated IFI lack of understanding about our state’s priorities – funding the essential services and activities of the State of Indiana. At the same time, introduction of the proposal ignores reality – Indiana already has a state law defining marriage as between one man and one woman – and attempts to sound the alarm about a problem that simply does not exist in Indiana.
Indiana
Equality Action thanks the Indiana House of Representatives for rejecting such
nonsense. Take a few moment to thank
your own State Representative by calling 800-382-9842.
Something occurred to me in the middle of the Pride Parade in Chicago this weekend. These sort of events are becoming so mainstream as to no longer be able to shock and awe the masses. Of course, the odd rightwinger or Bible-thumping preacher would be incensed by the sight of even one handsome bare-chested boy on a float, but the culture has moved past that I think.
As we walked down Halstead after the parade, I was struck by the fact that I'd seen not a single protestor. I'm sure that somewhere on the fringe there were the sad banner holding folks that we always see. And I am sure the Westboro Baptist Church was to be found at a Pride event somewhere. But honestly, I usually expect to see those folks to validate our claims to be oppressed in a twisted sort of way. (For those of you who will argue that we are, regardless of the protestors, I will concede and agree to that without qualification.)
But seriously, look at how far we have come. Whether in Indy or Chicago, I watched parades in which corporate sponsors from giants like Lilly and Cummins, to grocery chains and even a local Chicago plumber felt a need to be involved. Of course the local gay bars and businesses are there as well. And it's clear that local politicians know how to count votes. I was impressed to see not only city aldermen and women, but every statewide official including the governor of Illinois being supportive and out in force. And every media source from radio to television is not only on the sidelines, but smack dab in the middle with their own floats. One of the most ironic sights was seeing the hottie hoochie boy crowd, who'd usually be the featured outrageous sight on the nightly news, actually ON the TV station float gyrating to the salsa/disco beats!
One of the floats that most caught my eye though on this 40th anniversary of the Stonewall Riots was near the beginning. It featured many LGBT police and associated service providers. Can you imagine an out and proud cop in 1969? In fact, as we know, it was the cops vs. drag queen drama that truly gave impetus to what groups like the Mattachine Society and the Daughters of Bilitis had worked so hard (and quietly) for in the 1950s-60s. And to see Frank Kameny honored this past week, after being dismissed from government service all those years ago was truly an inspiring sight.
This afternoon I watched as the first White House ceremony was held to honor LGBT Pride month and saw the President of my country declare that my friends and I are regular citizens and deserving of the same protections as anyone else. The whole laundry list was there – Don't Ask Don't Tell (DADT), Employment Non-Discrimination Act (ENDA), hate crimes inclusion (Matthew Shepard Act) and even the Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA). I mean, we all know that Obama speaks a good game. And as a vocal supporter, I think he also means what he says, having at times spoken truth to power by supporting us in front of crowds not so disposed to liking our demands for change.
And yet, there's still that reality to face in the morning. Like the hangover after a weekend of Pride celebrating, how are we to reach all these goals? This weekend was also host to a gay bashing in New York City. And with shades of Stonewall, there are reports of a bar being raided in Fort Worth, Texas. And sadly, I am sure that some young gay, lesbian or transperson was kicked out of his/her house for being LGBT and unrepentant. Some unknown person may have even killed him/herself rather than deal with the ostracism and pain. I'm a sentimental softie as my friends would confirm, but I think it's a universal for most of us that seeing a kid hurting or a strong gay family in peril just tears at my heart.
Mr. President, we've heard your words. And now, it's time for each of us to decide that those words were marching orders. WE are the change we seek to bring about in the world. We cannot retreat to our safe gay ghettoes in Chicago or even Indianapolis, where things are great for our most affluent brothers and sisters and forget the rural areas and smaller towns. We cannot beg and plead for someone else to do the heavy lifting and save us. There will be NO Gay Martin Luther King to lead the way. We must instead each confront our own personal Stonewall moments and face them down. We do this not just to make our own lives safer, but to make the changes needed for our world and the next generation.
But guess what? In this day of blogs, youtube, facebook, twitter, instant news and globalization of even the most local of events, WE have the tools to change hearts and minds – one at a time. I don't suggest that anyone imperil his life, but taking even small steps out of the shade and into the sunlight is important. The Frank Kamenys of the world risked their careers and lives by stepping forward to state that even gays and lesbians deserved to be full citizens. In this day and age, how can we do any less? Doesn't the next generation – the ones who know gay teachers and lesbian police officers and trans neighbors – deserve to be able to live free of fear and ignorance?
Step up. Take a chance. Tell the truth. Join the cause. Be Proud and live free.
From AARP:
Some of us are gray, some of us are gay and some of us are both. Hooray.
Good reasons, then, for AARP to commemorate the 40th anniversary of the Stonewall riots with an ambitious multimedia project that chronicles the riots, their lasting impact and the lives of America’s 50+ LGBT community.
Www.aarp.org/stonewall features interviews, stories, Q&A with prominent figures and links to AARP’s LGBT online social network, called PRiSM.
It was 40 years ago today …
South Bend Mayor Steve Luecke issued an Executive Order on Wednesday, June 24, 2009 to expand the city's non-discrimination policy for city employees to include sexual orientation and gender identity. Indiana Equality thanks Mayor Luecke for his decision and congratulates the entire South Bend community on this step forward.
South Bend Equality,
a local community organization that advocates for equal protection under the
law for all residents regardless of sexual orientation or gender identity,
declared the executive order "an important step" toward establishing
needed civil rights protections and applauded Mayor Luecke for his leadership
and courage in standing up against the mistreatment of any citizen.
In
concert with other community organizations, South Bend Equality has been
leading efforts with the South Bend Common Council to amend the city’s Human
Rights Ordinance to include non-discrimination protections for lesbian, gay,
bisexual, and transgender individuals in housing, employment, and public
accommodations The Mayor’s order, affecting only city employees, does not
alter the South Bend ordinance.
Currently
it is legal to fire, discriminate against, or deny housing to someone on the
basis, or the perception, of their sexual orientation or gender identity in
most of Indiana. Only in the cities of Bloomington, Fort Wayne,
Indianapolis, Lafayette, Michigan City, and West Lafayette and in Tippecanoe
County is sexual orientation covered. Gender Identity is included in the
Bloomington and Indianapolis ordinances. The State of Indiana has an
executive order signed by the Governor Frank O’Bannon and continued by
Governors Joe Kernan and Mitch Daniels which covers both in state employment
only.
A 2008 Indiana
Equality-commissioned survey of Hoosier residents conducted by the IU
Center for Survey Research found that respondents overwhelmingly agree (80.4%)
that gay and lesbian Hoosiers should have the same civil rights protections as
other groups, while 79.7% agree on transgender inclusion in civil rights
protections. Support for equal treatment is also bi-partisan -- 92% of Democrats,
64.2% of Republicans, and 85.5% of Independents support civil rights for gays
and lesbians. Clear majorities support such protections in urban,
suburban, small town, and rural areas, and across all age and educational
attainment groups.
Praising
Mayor Luecke’s position, Indiana Equality encourages the South Bend Common
Council to move from this initial-step to full inclusion. Indiana Equality
Action President Walter Botich, a South Bend native, declared, "It's
time for South Bend to move into the vanguard of progressive cities in
Indiana. All citizens deserve to be fully protected from discrimination
in their employment and housing regardless of their identity."
The mission Indiana Equality is to end discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity in Indiana. IE seeks such equality by facilitating and coordinating the efforts of the LGBT and allied community that are directed to research, education, and community mobilization. For more information regarding Indiana Equality, please visit the organization’s website at www.indianaequality.org.
Like Dracula rising from the grave with the wooden stake still plunged in his heart, the Marriage Discrimination Amendment (currently styled as HJR3) has returned for a summer rerun. The special session of the Indiana General Assembly, called by Governor Mitch Daniels to deal with passage of a state budget, was presented with this proverbial rotten egg this week by State Representatives Eric Turner (R-Marion) and Dave Cheatham (D –North Vernon).
Now, with schools in turmoil –laying off teachers and unable to make the millions in budget cuts forced by this session, with cities such as Muncie having to cut 32 firefighters and five police, and with the jobless situation in Indiana at an unacceptably high rate, I can see why these .. uhm.. "gentlemen" think that banning what doesn't exist is crucial. "Why, pay no attention to the man behind the curtain, there's gays out there about to get hitched and they're coming your way, Indiana!"
Really guys, are you so nuts as to think that ANY Hoosier rates this as the top issue to be dealt with in the special session? Wait, you’re the legislature that declared sugar cream pie our official pie instead of getting a budget passed. I forgot. A little Mrs. Wick's goes a long way, eh?
And now comes news that Governor Mark Sanford (SC), who was reputedly thinking of seeking the Presidency in 2012, is joining his fellow Republican Senator John Ensign (NV) in admitting to having an extra-marital affair. Hm, I think these guys beating up on gay and lesbian families doth protest too much. Wait, maybe they're right! Now that six states – count'm SIX (one of the numbers in 666 – sign of the anti-Christ, doncha know!) – have allowed gay marriage, it IS having an effect on ALL marriages. Why politicians of every stripe are breaking out in the horizontal mamba with foreign women and employees for goodness sake!! (New York Democratic Governor Eliot Spitzer at least had the decency to resign.) It must be due to all that gay and lesbian influence in the marriage pool! We need some strong bleach in the Hoosier political pool before it affects some of our own representatives. Cheatham and Turner may have a great idea here – think they doubt their colleagues' chastity and fidelity perhaps?
Of course, that was an example of snark for those of you for whom I was too subtle. Look, this is the regular sop to the right-wingers of the Indiana Family Institute, which is already promoting this move and raising funds from it while admitting it has a snowball's chance in Indy.
The Unholy Trinity of Curt Smith, Micah Clark, Eric Miller and their alcolytes want you to think that Hoosier gay and lesbian couples and families are a huge threat to American morality as well as the fabric of the American family. They would rather look to an amorphous "other" enemy to bind their own fractured followers behind a cohesive strategy on taxes, than to deal with issues head on. (How taxes became a religious or moral issue is beyond me – don't you also want fire protection and police in Muncie or schools across the state?)
Please help Indiana Equality Action to stop this nonsense one more time – take a moment from your vacation and email House Speaker Pat Bauer – h6@in.gov or to call 1-800-382-9842 toll free and speak with your own State Representative. Tell them to stick to the agenda of getting the people's work done. I know I've called mine.
