Indiana Equality

Along The Way

I was amazed the other night in the way that the President-Elect of the United States called himself a staunch supporter of rights for gays and lesbians.  At the time I was still absorbing a body-blow from his selection of Pastor Rick Warren of Saddleback Church to give the Invocation at the Inauguration in January. 

Now, all I know about Warren is that he has made inflammatory comments about gay marriage comparing  it to pedophilia and incest.  That alone would make him unwelcome in my home or in most any conversation I might engage with him.  And then when I see his active support for CA Prop 8 – which repealed the rights of gay couples – I am even more inclined to scratch my head and wonder why the Obama crowd thought this prominent a role was a good idea.

See, if you know me well, you’ll know I have been a very active Obama fan since the beginning of the primary process.  I worked for him (as well as other progressive candidates) on many levels.  I believe he has the opportunity to create real change – in policy as well as attitudes.  And this country has never seen such a groundswell of support from so many corners. 

I believe in his stands on GLBT issues as well – and argued with purist friends who said, but what about his stance on gay marriage.  But look at ANY national (or Hoosier) politician and show me the truly brave ones who suport us 100%.  Then show me where they can get elected…

As I looked more into the Warren background, I am finding that a lot of what he has tried to do in his church is to move past the same abortion/ gay marriage  social issues type of evangelical Christianity and to show that Christians must be involved in AIDS, environmental and other issues long considered liberal bastions.  Now, I will give him credit for bucking the normal trends in rightwing religiosity.   And he is certainly popular across the country, so those angry voices on our side are right in being concerned with the influential position and profile this choice will give Warren.

E.J. Dionne suggested today, however that maybe both side can see room for compromise to come to new consensus – which will be  ultimately more progessive by increment. In other words, no one would expect Warren to come out and be in favor of other civil rights for gays, but when he does, then even rightwing Christians have to rethink their own views.  And with the staunch support of the President-Elect, we already have one ally who knows our needs.

I just wish he hadn’t put Warren quite this prominently out front.  But if that means that the Ringtwing is calm for a while so that he can turn things around, I guess we can suck it up and move on.  Besides, my own opinion is that marriage is not the first priority, so long as folks in Delphi and Monon can be fired for the mere fact that then are gay.

And those are just my opinions.

Arizona Bar Considers Inclusion

The Arizona Bar Association is considering revising their oath of office pledge to include the following "I will not permit considerations of gender, race, religion, age, nationality, sexual orientation, disability, or social standing to influence my duty of care."

The Alliance Defense Fund has objected calling the act unconstitutional claiming "the proposed provision is unnecessary, exceedingly ambiguous, and unconstitutional". 

The ADF went on to claim "We are concerned most particularly that the proposed provision's vagueness violates due-process and free-speech guarantees and that its application infringes First Amendment rights by compelling conduct and expression in conflict with an attorney's philosophical or religions beliefs as well as his [or her] other professional responsibilities." 

No other explanation to its opposition to the revision was provided by the ADF. 

Yet Another Possible Bias Crime in Indy Area

At the end of a deadly year for LGBT across the nation and here in Indiana there may be yet another possible bias crime in the Indianapolis Area. 

Avery Elzy, 34, and Michael Hunt, 22, were found dead late Friday, December 26th, in a home in the 5800 block of Rosslyn Ave. 

More details will be provided as they become available. Media coverage can be found here and here. 

Anyone with information about the homicide are asked to contact the homicide branch at 317.327.3703 or Crime Stoppers at 317.262.8477.

Obama's Cabinet

Sure, I'm excited hearing about all that President-elect Obama wants to do, but I am a bit disappointed as well. 

As many know there has been quite the controversy over Rick Warren, Obama's pick to speak at his inauguration. Personally, I'm not so insulted by that as I am another choice of Obama's: his severe lack of LGBT folks in his cabinet. 

LGBT folks are certainly lacking representation in his cabinet along with women. Thus far Obama has tapped four women to be included in his cabinet--seriously? Of about 20 spots, only a fifth of the spots in his whole cabinet are going to women? Last I checked women made up about half of the country....

Equality Forward!

Indiana Equality to Work with
Cities and Towns, Statewide

I need your help to double this grant in 2009!

Indiana Equality (IE) has been chosen as a recipient of a $45,000 grant from Tide’s Foundation’s State Equality Fund, a philanthropic partnership that includes the Evelyn and Walter Haas, Jr. Fund, the Gill Foundation, and anonymous donors.

This grant, along with generous matching dollars from our supporters, will be used to expand civil rights protections (workplace, education, and public accommodations) for LGBT citizens across Indiana.

Indiana Equality has received a challenge grant of $45,000 for the first year, but the total project costs per year are almost $90,000, and we need your help to ensure that it is fully funded. I am asking you to make your tax-deductible donation today to make sure we are successful in 2009.

Your contribution will guarantee we can hire a field organizer to travel every part of the state. This organizer will reach out and educate Hoosiers and their elected officials, laying the groundwork for needed protections for LGBT people in cities and towns that currently lack them. Your donation will also provide for educational materials, town hall meetings, grassroots mobilization, research, strategic polling, operational support, and other activities necessary to secure protections for LGBT Hoosiers.

We are partnering in this project with the Midwest Office of Lambda Legal, the American Civil Liberties Union of Indiana (ACLU-IN), American Federation of State, County, and Municipal Employees Council 62 (AFSCME), Indiana AFL-CIO (AFL-CIO), state and local LGBT groups, and several other allied organizations.

We will spend the next several months reaching out to supporters like you to take full advantage of the $45,000 matching grant to our fund outreach and educational activities. I need your help with this project by making a gift today. Yours in equality.

Jon Keep
Chair, Indiana Equality

P.S. We are thrilled to have received a $45,000 grant to fund this important initiative, but I need you to make a gift today make sure the project is fully funded. It will make the difference in the lives of LGBT Hoosiers. Please make an end of the year, tax deductible gift today.

Click here to visit our secure website.

Happy Holidays to You and Yours

From all of us at Indiana Equality

All I Want For Christmas

Ok, it’s a cheesy copout for this time of the year, but let’s try the list.  We have been really good this year, Santa!

1)      Equal Rights for all across Indiana – one state at a time.  It would be nice to see that not just a few havens of Indiana protect all citizens regardless of sexual orientation and gender identity/expression.

2)      A Bias Crimes law in Indiana, so that we’re not still one of five states which don’t recognize that some crimes have an element of intimidation and threat to the whole community –regardless of category.

3)      Something else for the Rightwing in the Indiana General Assembly to focus on other than marriage rights which are already illegal.  Maybe they can find some jobs, ecomony, tax issues to take up their time?

4)      That the James Dobsons, Pat Robertsons and Rick Warrens of the world would spend less time on the gays and more on the myriad issues of the poor of the world.   Fighting the culture wars is glamorous, but maybe the poor, the hungry and those suffering from war and violence would be better places to start and make this country and world more livable.

5)      Peace and Harmony for all --- and that is my wish for you and your family.

You've got to Give Them Hope

Last night I went and saw the movie Milk. Milk is the story of Harvey Milk. The movie was great, but I'm not going to give you a critique of the film (although I should note that it was one of the few films where a gay relationship is shown for what it is: just like any other relationship). 

Rather I want to express my dire inspiration. Harvey Milk has been a personal hero and inspiration since I first heard his story. In the movie, Harvey reminded me of some of the work that IE does, working with organized labor, the African American community, Women, etc. In the movie Milk reaches out to a diversity of "us's"--those on the fringes. He continually strives for a party of inclusion. I like that. 

Indiana Equality PAC Given Kudos by eQuality Giving

eQuality Giving, an online forum connecting donors and organizations who's goal is LGBT equality, has mentioned the Indiana Equality Political Action Committee in their Top 10 Victories for LGBT Equality in 2008. 

BONUS #3: KEEPING MARRIAGE AMENDMENT OUT IN INDIANA
Working quietly as unsung heroes, the Indiana Equality PAC and other supporters managed to re-elect all of the members of the State Legislature who opposed a constitutional amendment to ban marriage equality in that state. They also helped to elect three additional pro equality State legislators.

The Indiana Equality Political Action Committee (IEPAC) is an organization that promotes social welfare and helps to bring about civil equality and social improvement, particularly as they relate to issues of sexual orientation and gender identity.

IEPAC is Indiana’s statewide political action committee (PAC) established to elect candidates who will support the needs of lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender Hoosiers and their families. To help create a more just and fair Indiana, IEPAC will:

• Support candidates to office who champion equal rights
• Help ensure that local and state government truly represents the interests of all constituents
• Assist in changing the tone in the State House by electing fair-minded people to the Indiana General Assembly
• Hold accountable any candidate for public office that uses LGBT people, families, or issues as part of a divisive campaign strategy

IE Awarded Grant

INDIANAPOLIS – An initiative to help local communities pass LGBT-inclusive Human Rights Ordinances and educate the public and elected officials on the need for statewide civil rights protections has been announced by Indiana’s statewide advocacy group for lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender equality.

Indiana Equality (IE) has been chosen as a grant recipient by the Tides Foundation’s State Equality Fund, a philanthropic partnership that includes the Evelyn and Walter Haas, Jr Fund, the Gill Foundation, and anonymous donors.  The award will provide major funding for the multi-year civil rights effort, but the group will be working on raising additional contributions that will be needed to fully fund the project.