Indiana Equality

The battle for equality continues

By Jon Keep, President Indiana Equality The Declaration of Independence stated “We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal...”

Although “equality” was listed first in the ideals of our country, history has shown that America does not “give” equality; citizens must actively organize, lobby, vote, and work to achieve equality. Women’s suffrage and the civil rights movements are only the most recent of these movements to obtain equality.

Through the efforts of LGBT Hoosiers and their families, friends, and allies, progress has been made in 2007. A major victory was scored in the fight against the Marriage Discrimination Amendment – Senate Joint Resolution 7 – when the proposal was stalled in the Indiana General Assembly. State hate crimes legislation was introduced and moved forward in the House of Representatives. Additional LGBT-supportive city councilors were elected this fall in Bloomington, Fort Wayne, Lafayette, Indianapolis, West Lafayette, and other Indiana communities. Additional Hoosier corporations are providing domestic partnership benefits. Successful and growing Pride events were conducted across Indiana in communities such as Bloomington, Evansville, Fort Wayne, Gary, Muncie, and Indianapolis. New and enhanced LGBT publications and public relations campaigns have sprung up across the state. The community and allies have continued to speak out against hate and intolerance wherever it is found.

A tremendous thank you is due to those that made the progress of 2007 possible, including (but not limited to) such organizations and groups as American Association of University Professors, American Federation of State, County, and Municipal Employees (AFSCME), American Values Alliance, BloomingOut, Bloomington Beacon, Citizens for Civil Rights (Lafayette/West Lafayette), Communication Workers of America, Cummins, Inc., Dow AgroSciences, Eli Lilly & Company, Emmis Communications, Gay Fort Wayne, Gay/Straight Alliance (Columbus), Human Rights Campaign - Indiana Steering Committee, Indiana Black Pride, Indiana Coalition Against Domestic Violence, Indiana Fairness Network, Indiana Log Cabin Republicans, Indiana PFLAG Alliance, Indiana Transgender Rights Advocacy Alliance, Indy Pride, Indy Rainbow Chamber of Commerce, Indiana Stonewall Democrats, Interfaith Coalition on Nondiscrimination, IU Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, Transgender Student Support Services, Jesus Metropolitan Community Church, Jewish Community Relations Council, National Association of Social Workers, Reality Magazine, South Bend Equality, Stop the Amendment, The Word, Tri-State Alliance, Unitarian Universalist Community Churches in Danville, Indianapolis, Bloomington, Fort Wayne, and Lafayette, United DePauw, and WellPoint, Inc.

Nonetheless, there are more battles to come, including a renewed effort to enact an Indiana hate crimes law, as well as probable reintroduction of SJR 7.

The mission of Indiana Equality is to secure basic human rights for Indiana’s LGBT citizens. IE has two primary objectives – amending Indiana’s Civil Rights law to protect against discrimination based on either sexual orientation or gender identity, and ensuring that relationship protections for LGBT couples and families are not outlawed by an amendment to the State Constitution.

The leadership of Indiana Equality, comprised of individuals representing communities and organizations from across Indiana, has been busy throughout the summer and fall preparing for 2008. Additional partnerships forged with the Indiana State NAACP and local African-American leaders, the disabilities community, business and corporate leaders, LGBT-supportive religious groups and churches, organized labor, progressive organizations, and others will be vital to success in the coming year.

Indiana’s LGBT communities and allies must be ready for 2008. Encourage the groups and organizations with whom you are involved to join in the struggle for equality for all Hoosiers. Membership in the Indiana Equality coalition is open to any LGBT organization or LGBT-friendly statewide ally organization that accepts the IE Statement of Principals.

Labels: civil rights, equality, hate crimes, marriage

The battle for equality continues

By Jon Keep, President Indiana Equality The Declaration of Independence stated “We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal...”

Although “equality” was listed first in the ideals of our country, history has shown that America does not “give” equality; citizens must actively organize, lobby, vote, and work to achieve equality. Women’s suffrage and the civil rights movements are only the most recent of these movements to obtain equality.

Through the efforts of LGBT Hoosiers and their families, friends, and allies, progress has been made in 2007. A major victory was scored in the fight against the Marriage Discrimination Amendment – Senate Joint Resolution 7 – when the proposal was stalled in the Indiana General Assembly. State hate crimes legislation was introduced and moved forward in the House of Representatives. Additional LGBT-supportive city councilors were elected this fall in Bloomington, Fort Wayne, Lafayette, Indianapolis, West Lafayette, and other Indiana communities. Additional Hoosier corporations are providing domestic partnership benefits. Successful and growing Pride events were conducted across Indiana in communities such as Bloomington, Evansville, Fort Wayne, Gary, Muncie, and Indianapolis. New and enhanced LGBT publications and public relations campaigns have sprung up across the state. The community and allies have continued to speak out against hate and intolerance wherever it is found.

A tremendous thank you is due to those that made the progress of 2007 possible, including (but not limited to) such organizations and groups as American Association of University Professors, American Federation of State, County, and Municipal Employees (AFSCME), American Values Alliance, BloomingOut, Bloomington Beacon, Citizens for Civil Rights (Lafayette/West Lafayette), Communication Workers of America, Cummins, Inc., Dow AgroSciences, Eli Lilly & Company, Emmis Communications, Gay Fort Wayne, Gay/Straight Alliance (Columbus), Human Rights Campaign - Indiana Steering Committee, Indiana Black Pride, Indiana Coalition Against Domestic Violence, Indiana Fairness Network, Indiana Log Cabin Republicans, Indiana PFLAG Alliance, Indiana Transgender Rights Advocacy Alliance, Indy Pride, Indy Rainbow Chamber of Commerce, Indiana Stonewall Democrats, Interfaith Coalition on Nondiscrimination, IU Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, Transgender Student Support Services, Jesus Metropolitan Community Church, Jewish Community Relations Council, National Association of Social Workers, Reality Magazine, South Bend Equality, Stop the Amendment, The Word, Tri-State Alliance, Unitarian Universalist Community Churches in Danville, Indianapolis, Bloomington, Fort Wayne, and Lafayette, United DePauw, and WellPoint, Inc.

Nonetheless, there are more battles to come, including a renewed effort to enact an Indiana hate crimes law, as well as probable reintroduction of SJR 7.

The mission of Indiana Equality is to secure basic human rights for Indiana’s LGBT citizens. IE has two primary objectives – amending Indiana’s Civil Rights law to protect against discrimination based on either sexual orientation or gender identity, and ensuring that relationship protections for LGBT couples and families are not outlawed by an amendment to the State Constitution.

The leadership of Indiana Equality, comprised of individuals representing communities and organizations from across Indiana, has been busy throughout the summer and fall preparing for 2008. Additional partnerships forged with the Indiana State NAACP and local African-American leaders, the disabilities community, business and corporate leaders, LGBT-supportive religious groups and churches, organized labor, progressive organizations, and others will be vital to success in the coming year.

Indiana’s LGBT communities and allies must be ready for 2008. Encourage the groups and organizations with whom you are involved to join in the struggle for equality for all Hoosiers. Membership in the Indiana Equality coalition is open to any LGBT organization or LGBT-friendly statewide ally organization that accepts the IE Statement of Principals.

Labels: civil rights, equality, hate crimes, marriage

Why Indiana should enact bias crimes legislation

By Jon Keep, President Indiana Equality

All Hoosiers have a stake in an effective response to violent bigotry. Hate (bias) crimes demand a priority response because of their special emotional and psychological impact on the victim and the victim's community. The damage done by hate crimes cannot be measured solely in terms of physical injury or dollars and cents. Hate crimes may effectively intimidate other members of the victim's community, leaving them feeling isolated, vulnerable and unprotected by the law.

Hate crimes send a message of terror to an entire group, and are therefore unlike a random act of violence. Hate crimes laws recognize the particular social threat of bias-motivated violence.

By making members of minority communities fearful, angry and suspicious of other groups -- and of the power structure that is supposed to protect them -- these incidents can damage the fabric of our society and fragment communities.

Bias (hate) crimes laws punish actions, not speech or thought. The criminal justice system focuses on intent or motive all the time, particularly in sentencing. For example, the legal distinction between murder and manslaughter rests on whether the killer intended to kill, and whether it was premeditated. In 1993, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled unanimously that hate crimes laws based upon intent are constitutional.

Indiana is one of only five states that do not have a state bias/hate crime bill. The Indiana General Assembly will be considering state bias crimes legislation in the 2008 session. Below are ten things you can do to help pass this important legislation:

1. Be informed about the legislation and why it is important for Indiana citizens. For more information about bias crimes legislation, go to the Indiana Equality website at http://www.indianaequality.org/.

2. Send a letter to your state representative and senator asking them to support bias crime legislation. For information about who is your state legislator and how to contact them, go to http://www.in.gov/apps/sos/legislator/search/

3. Talk to your family, partner, neighbors, friends, and acquaintances about Indiana’s bias crimes legislation and urge them to contact their State Representative and State Senator.

4. Speak with the leaders of organizations with whom you belong about the need for the bias crime legislation and seek time to present the need at an up coming meeting.

5. Ask the organizations with whom you have membership to pass a resolution in support of Indiana’s bias crimes Legislation.

6. Submit a letter to the editor of your local newspaper, urging support of Indiana bias crimes legislation.

7. Financially support the governmental affairs and lobbying work of the groups and organizations advocating on behalf of Indiana’s bias crimes legislation, including the Anti-Defamation League, local NAACP branches, the ARC of Indiana, and Indiana Equality.

8. Reach out to groups representing other constituencies protected by the bias crimes legislation and seek their support to contact legislators about the need for protections. The proposal protects against violence committed due to color, creed, disability, national origin, race, religion, sexual orientation, gender identity, or sex of the individual.

9. Follow the activities of the Indiana General Assembly as they consider the proposed bias crimes legislation.

10. Keep everyone who cares about equality and justice informed.

The time has come that Indiana grasp the higher goals of justice, liberty and an atmosphere of safety for all its citizens.

Labels: hate crimes

Why Indiana should enact bias crimes legislation

By Jon Keep, President Indiana Equality

All Hoosiers have a stake in an effective response to violent bigotry. Hate (bias) crimes demand a priority response because of their special emotional and psychological impact on the victim and the victim's community. The damage done by hate crimes cannot be measured solely in terms of physical injury or dollars and cents. Hate crimes may effectively intimidate other members of the victim's community, leaving them feeling isolated, vulnerable and unprotected by the law.

Hate crimes send a message of terror to an entire group, and are therefore unlike a random act of violence. Hate crimes laws recognize the particular social threat of bias-motivated violence.

By making members of minority communities fearful, angry and suspicious of other groups -- and of the power structure that is supposed to protect them -- these incidents can damage the fabric of our society and fragment communities.

Bias (hate) crimes laws punish actions, not speech or thought. The criminal justice system focuses on intent or motive all the time, particularly in sentencing. For example, the legal distinction between murder and manslaughter rests on whether the killer intended to kill, and whether it was premeditated. In 1993, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled unanimously that hate crimes laws based upon intent are constitutional.

Indiana is one of only five states that do not have a state bias/hate crime bill. The Indiana General Assembly will be considering state bias crimes legislation in the 2008 session. Below are ten things you can do to help pass this important legislation:

1. Be informed about the legislation and why it is important for Indiana citizens. For more information about bias crimes legislation, go to the Indiana Equality website at http://www.indianaequality.org/.

2. Send a letter to your state representative and senator asking them to support bias crime legislation. For information about who is your state legislator and how to contact them, go to http://www.in.gov/apps/sos/legislator/search/

3. Talk to your family, partner, neighbors, friends, and acquaintances about Indiana’s bias crimes legislation and urge them to contact their State Representative and State Senator.

4. Speak with the leaders of organizations with whom you belong about the need for the bias crime legislation and seek time to present the need at an up coming meeting.

5. Ask the organizations with whom you have membership to pass a resolution in support of Indiana’s bias crimes Legislation.

6. Submit a letter to the editor of your local newspaper, urging support of Indiana bias crimes legislation.

7. Financially support the governmental affairs and lobbying work of the groups and organizations advocating on behalf of Indiana’s bias crimes legislation, including the Anti-Defamation League, local NAACP branches, the ARC of Indiana, and Indiana Equality.

8. Reach out to groups representing other constituencies protected by the bias crimes legislation and seek their support to contact legislators about the need for protections. The proposal protects against violence committed due to color, creed, disability, national origin, race, religion, sexual orientation, gender identity, or sex of the individual.

9. Follow the activities of the Indiana General Assembly as they consider the proposed bias crimes legislation.

10. Keep everyone who cares about equality and justice informed.

The time has come that Indiana grasp the higher goals of justice, liberty and an atmosphere of safety for all its citizens.

Labels: hate crimes

The Turn of the Year

Turn the Screws The Roman god, Janus, was a two-faced god. Not in the bad, can't believe you just did that behind my back kinda way, but he was actually two-faced.

The Romans named the month of January for him, because he looked back over the past months and was also able to see the future. Maybe that's one reason why we like to have all of those Top Ten of 2007 lists.. and then turn around and make resolutions for the future year, which we hope to keep.

In that spirit, let's look back over 2007 from a Hoosier LGBT perspective:

Rep. Jeb Bardon, D-Indianapolis, introduced a bill to include sexual orientation and gender identity, but with all the other issues passing through the General Assembly, it never got a hearing. This is the main reason Indiana Equality came together to begin with, so it will definitely be on our agenda. There is no reason for someone to lose a job or housing based on their sexual orientation or gender identity. Even though many cities in Indiana have recognized this, it's time for all Hoosiers to be included.

The Bias Crimes bill proposed by Rep. Greg Porter, D-Indianapolis, had great chances of passage. It's clear that a majority of the House of Representatives would have passed this had it if it had not been highjacked by the rightwing antics of Rep. Jackie Walorski. Why can't they realize that even religious folks would be covered under this bill that would only give judges the option to add penalties based on the intimidation factor for the whole community? Recently, even the Indiana Family Institute used the case of the shooting at the mission/ church to imply that that situation was more aggregious than the one at the mall. It's shocking-- and maybe that's the point-- it feels like an attack on the whole "religious community."

Most important, the statewide coalition that is Indiana Equality (http://www.indianaequality.org/) with a host of allies across the state including domestic violence advocates, corporate allies, and legal scholars was able to stop SJR7 - The Marriage Discrimination Amendment-- in the House Rules Committee! I cannot begin to explain what a joyous and historic event that was in my own life. To sit in the House and watch the drama unfold,knowing what it could mean for the people I know and love... awesome.

Looking forward:
First, Bardon and Porter will reintroduce their bills. I would expect to see some surprises on the Bias bill. Yes, I know what that might be...

SJR7's sponsor Sen. Brandt Hershman will definitely reintroduce. If you don't already know, this amendment must pass in the same form again this session to be on thegeneral ballot in 2008. If not, the process starts all over. There seems to be cautious optimism that Indiana Equality and our allies can stop this again. BUT, stay alert and sign up to get involved when your input is needed. (http://www.indianaequality.org/)

Labels: civil rights, discrimination, marriage

The Turn of the Year

Turn the Screws The Roman god, Janus, was a two-faced god. Not in the bad, can't believe you just did that behind my back kinda way, but he was actually two-faced.

The Romans named the month of January for him, because he looked back over the past months and was also able to see the future. Maybe that's one reason why we like to have all of those Top Ten of 2007 lists.. and then turn around and make resolutions for the future year, which we hope to keep.

In that spirit, let's look back over 2007 from a Hoosier LGBT perspective:

Rep. Jeb Bardon, D-Indianapolis, introduced a bill to include sexual orientation and gender identity, but with all the other issues passing through the General Assembly, it never got a hearing. This is the main reason Indiana Equality came together to begin with, so it will definitely be on our agenda. There is no reason for someone to lose a job or housing based on their sexual orientation or gender identity. Even though many cities in Indiana have recognized this, it's time for all Hoosiers to be included.

The Bias Crimes bill proposed by Rep. Greg Porter, D-Indianapolis, had great chances of passage. It's clear that a majority of the House of Representatives would have passed this had it if it had not been highjacked by the rightwing antics of Rep. Jackie Walorski. Why can't they realize that even religious folks would be covered under this bill that would only give judges the option to add penalties based on the intimidation factor for the whole community? Recently, even the Indiana Family Institute used the case of the shooting at the mission/ church to imply that that situation was more aggregious than the one at the mall. It's shocking-- and maybe that's the point-- it feels like an attack on the whole "religious community."

Most important, the statewide coalition that is Indiana Equality (http://www.indianaequality.org/) with a host of allies across the state including domestic violence advocates, corporate allies, and legal scholars was able to stop SJR7 - The Marriage Discrimination Amendment-- in the House Rules Committee! I cannot begin to explain what a joyous and historic event that was in my own life. To sit in the House and watch the drama unfold,knowing what it could mean for the people I know and love... awesome.

Looking forward:
First, Bardon and Porter will reintroduce their bills. I would expect to see some surprises on the Bias bill. Yes, I know what that might be...

SJR7's sponsor Sen. Brandt Hershman will definitely reintroduce. If you don't already know, this amendment must pass in the same form again this session to be on thegeneral ballot in 2008. If not, the process starts all over. There seems to be cautious optimism that Indiana Equality and our allies can stop this again. BUT, stay alert and sign up to get involved when your input is needed. (http://www.indianaequality.org/)

Labels: civil rights, discrimination, marriage