Indiana Equality

Letter to the Editor

November 30, 2008

Only 1 hate crime this year? Reporting must get better

Buried in the story about the funeral of murder victims Milton Lindgren and Eric Hendricks is an observation that Indianapolis, with a population in excess of 750,000, has recorded only one hate crime in 2008. Can it be that there are truly fewer hate crimes in Indianapolis than in other cities of comparable size? Or is there a failure in Indianapolis to acknowledge and report hate crimes?

We deeply respect the dedication of this city's law enforcement officials. But we must note that Indianapolis has a bad record in this area; in 2007, it was one of only four cities in the nation with a population in excess of 250,000 that did not report hate crimes data to the FBI. Adequate hate-crime reporting enables researchers, civic leaders and community relations professionals to discern hate-crime patterns and to improve responses to hate-motivated activity, which can tear communities apart.

Indiana needs a penalty-enhancement hate crimes law, and Indianapolis needs to do a better job of collecting data on such crimes. A good starting place might be improved training in hate crime investigation and reporting.

Clare Pinkert

Midwest Area Civil Rights Counsel, Anti-Defamation League

Lonnie Nasatir

Regional Director, Greater

Chicago/Upper Midwest Region

Anti-Defamation League

Real Family Values

There is a notion perpetuated by malevolent organizations like the Indiana Family Institute and the American Family Association of Indiana that LGBT folks and their families don't deserve what society gives to families headed by opposite sex couples. 

They smile and happily say that an elderly lesbian couple shouldn't be able to see each other in the hospital when one falls ill. They smile and tell us that tax paying LGBT citizens don't deserve workplace protections like their heterosexual counterparts. 

They tell us these things, but we don't have to listen. On this day of thanks take a moment and reflect on the loved one's in your life. Our families are just as valuable and beautiful as any one else's. 

On this day of thanks, Indiana Equality is grateful for all the wonderful individuals throughout our Great State that give future generations hope. 

Hope for a better tomorrow. 

Hope for a world free of hatred and bigotry. 

Hope for a world where everyone is equal. 

                   

 

No Rational Basis

Only weeks after all unmarried couples and needy children in Arkansas were dealt a stunning blow to the ability to adopt children seeking a home, a Florida judge ruled that a same-sex couple can proceed in adopting two brothers that they were foster parents for.

Florida, interestingly enough, has the most restrictive bans on adoptions by same-sex couples in the entire country. The judge in the case noted that she could find "no rational basis" for not allowing same-sex couples to adopt.

Reading the Tea Leaves

This post is a contribution from the wonderful Sheila Kennedy

On November 4^th, the American electorate—joined by an overwhelming majority of LBGT  citizens—elected Barack Obama President, and substantially increased the number of Democrats sent to serve in the Senate and House of Representatives. While all Republican candidates weren’t homophobes (although I know it sometimes seems that way), and all Democrats certainly weren’t beacons of enlightenment, it is nevertheless true that Democrats are, on balance, far more likely to support gay rights.

Also on election day, however, we saw the passage of several state-level measures denying gays and lesbians basic civil rights, measures meant to insure that they would remain second-class citizens. Of those results, the most unexpected and by far the most disappointing was the narrow win for California’s Proposition 8.  

So—what happens next? Is the glass half empty, or half full? Where does gay America go from here?

The 2008 Indianapolis Transgender Day of Remembrance

Dear Friends,

As I'm writing this letter, the world-wide community of transgendered people, their friends and loved ones are preparing for the ninth annual Transgender Day of Remembrance. This event was first conceived to draw attention to the brutal, unsolved murder of transperson Rita Hester, but having also sparked the web project Remembering Our Dead and other research efforts, we now honor more than 350 people whose lives were cut short by other people's fear and prejudice.

Here in Indianapolis we'll observe this event as part vigil, part affirmation, and part inspiration to heal ourselves and our community. We'll mourn those lost to senseless fear, and celebrate the positive lives and positive change that we can make happen.

Will you join us in making the most of this opportunity this year? Here's how you can help:

Holiday IN the Governor's Residence

RSVP Today

California vs. Indiana: Here We Go Again

by Don Sherfick

By now we’re well aware of the news from Florida, Arizona, and California that though the popular initiative process, state constitutional amendments denying equality to same-sex couples. The disappointments are keen, especially in California where the marital status of some 18,000 gay and lesbian couple has suddenly been thrust into legal limbo. Unfortunately, post-mortems as to why the efforts of the many who fought the discriminatory measure in California have included some finger-pointing that distracts from more important discussions over where pro-equality forces go from here.

There are some stories that religious forces have been emboldened by the success of these amendments.  Hoosiers may naturally speculate as to what impact, the news from these three states will have next January when the Indiana General Assembly reconvenes.  It seems likely that those who sponsored an ultimately defeated "Indiana Marriage Protection Amendment" (SJR7) will point to California, where after Proposition 8 narrowly passed,  some plaintiffs have gone to the California Supreme Court in an attempt to invalidate the measure.  Amendment proponents here will no doubt point to this as another example of trying to use "unelected activist judges" to thwart the popular will and predict it could happen here.  That’s nonsense, and here’s why:

Public memorial for Milton Lindgren and Eric Hendricks

Public memorial for
Milton Lindgren and Eric Hendricks

Thursday, November 20, 2008, 5:30 p.m.
Indianapolis Art Center, Churchman-Fehsenfeld Gallery
820 E. 67th Street, Indianapolis, IN 46220

The Indianapolis Art Center and Indiana Equality invite the public to an evening of remembrance for Milton Lindgren and Eric Hendricks.

Murdered in their home on October 20, 2008, Milton Lindgren and Eric Hendricks had been subject to vandalism and anti gay statements prior to their violent deaths.

Speakers at the memorial will include:
Annie Beck, Associate Education Director at the Art Center
Representative of US Congressman Andre Carson
Pastor Dave Dehnke, Harvest Lutheran Church, Mooresville (Milt’s pastor and friend)
Douglas Hairston, City of Indianapolis
Jon Keep, President of Indiana Equality
Joyce Sommers, Art Center Executive Director

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	Indianapolis Art Center: Mary Lee Pappas (317)255-2464 ext. 223 marylee@indplsartcenter.org
	Indiana Equality: John Joanette 317-250-5308 john@lambdaconsulting.net

About the Indianapolis Art Center
Indianapolis Art Center is a not-for-profit community arts organization that makes art accessible to all people and enhances people's lives through art. Located in the Broad Ripple Village Cultural District and along the White River, the Indianapolis Art Center is the place to make art, see art and talk about art. For more information visit www.IndplsArtCenter.org or call (317)255-2464.

About Indiana Equality
The mission of 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, see our website at www.indianaequality.org.

Michael Brown Arrested in California

Below is an article from the Indianapolis Star that talks about Michael Brown who is wanted in connection with the murders of Eric Hendricks and Milton Lindgren. Eric and Milton were murdered in their Marion County home last month. 

November 16, 2008 Suspect in Indianapolis deaths arrested in California By Kevin O'Neal kevin.oneal@indystar.com A man wanted on a warrant in connection with a double slaying in Indianapolis has been arrested in California, according to the Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department. Michael Brown, 56, was arrested Saturday in San Diego, according to a statement from Sgt. Paul Thompson, Police Department spokesman. Brown was wanted in the deaths of Eric Hendricks, 73, and Milton Lindgren, 70. The men were found dead Oct. 20 in bedrooms of the house they shared in the 9100 block of Middlebury Way, on the Southwestside near the Hendricks County line. Brown was originally mentioned by police as a friend of the victims who had found the bodies. In a printed police report, officers said Brown told them he had not heard from Hendricks and Lindgren for a week or two, and he went to their residence. There, according to the statement, Brown told officers he found a rear window was partly open. The report said Brown and another man told police they entered the house through that window and found the victims' bodies inside. Court records stated that two murder charges against Brown were filed Thursday and a warrant for his arrest was issued. Police have not said what led to the deaths.

LGBTQ community: mixed experiences

This story is from The DePauw; as many of you may know, I go to DePauw and this was quite the interesting story 

LGBTQ Community: Mixed Experiences

Students, staff discuss experiences being minorities of sexual orientation on campus

By: Kali GeldisPosted: 11/7/08

As a prospective student visiting from Texas, senior Neal McKinney said he was "amazed" to walk onto campus and see a gay pride flag hanging in the Muticultural Affairs office.

"When I came to college, I said I'm not going to be afraid to be who I am," he said.

McKinney, who now serves as co-president of the gay-straight alliance group United DePauw, said he feels supported at DePauw after attending a high school that was "not very open and accepting."