We are Winning!

An open letter to LGBT and Allied Hoosiers:

We are Winning!

Last week’s elections, when taken in context with recent Indiana legislative successes, demonstrate that Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender (LGBT) persons, their friends, families, and allies are making progress in achieving equality for all Hoosiers.

• Every Indiana State Representative that voted in 2007 in opposition to the Marriage Discrimination Amendment was handily re-elected, and newly elected pro-equality State Representatives include John Barnes, Ed DeLaney, and Mary Ann Sullivan.  The Indiana Equality Political Action Committee committed time, money, and volunteers to help make the Indiana legislature more equality-minded.
• There are now openly LGBT elected officials in Allen, Hamilton, Marion, and Monroe Counties.
• Indiana Equality and other LGBT leaders have continual and regular communications and discussions with Governor Mitch Daniels, Speaker of the House B. Patrick Bauer, other key elected officials, and state political parties.
• While keeping the Marriage Discrimination Amendment at bay, Indiana Equality is reaching out to a wide range of allies to ensure that inclusive state-wide civil right protections and inclusive state-wide bias crimes legislation are put in place.
• Indiana Equality, in partnership with Lambda Legal, the Indiana AFL-CIO, the American Civil Liberties Union of Indiana, and the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees is mounting a three-year campaign to expand the number of Hoosier communities with LGBT protections in their community’s human rights ordinance.

Last week’s election certainly had some upsets for LGBT persons nationally.  In California Proposition 8 was passed outlawing marriage by gay couples only months after they were granted that right. In Florida and Arizona the election has brought yet two more discriminatory amendments affecting the everyday lives of working citizens. And possibly most sadly, November 4th brought about a ban on adoption of any unmarried couples in Arkansas, leaving countless numbers of children as victims. Taking rights away from citizens, no matter its form, is never a step in the right direction.

California is very different from Indiana – California’s laws, constitution, and legislature function in a different way than in our state. Indiana, unlike California, has wisely made the state’s constitutional amendment process slow and deliberative.   We are comfortable that because of our efforts and those of countless friends and allies, momentum for a marriage discrimination amendment is highly unlikely for the foreseeable future.

While losing the battles in Arizona, Arkansas, California, and Florida, hope is on the horizon, not just for Indiana, but also for nation. For example:

• A record number of out LGBT officials were elected last Tuesday. Our country has come many a mile from the days of Harvey Milk—2008 showed us a country where a third openly gay member of the United State House of Representatives was elected.
• Three major bills await action by the new Congress. The Matthew Shepard Hate Crime Act, the Employment Non-Discrimination Act (ENDA), and the repeal of Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell (DADT) are likely to expire in the current congressional session, but are expected to be dealt with in the newly elected Congress.

Because of the hard work and support by people like you, the hope for equality in Indiana is promising.  LGBT Hoosiers are winning!

Jon Keep, President Indiana Equality	Kathy Sarris, President Indiana Equality Education Fund
Jackie Nytes, Co-Chair Indiana Equality Political Action Committee	Scott Keller, Co-Chair Indiana Equality Political Action Committee

Comments

[Ryan]

Good news...

Glad to see it isn't all doom and gloom like the media is reporting.