Indiana Equality

Blog for Equality!

Indiana Equality is committed to the protection of LGBT rights throughout the state of Indiana.

In order to best protect LGBT rights throughout the state we need to include as many voices as possible. Sound good to you? Then come blog for equality!

IE would like to extend an invitation to contribute to the Indiana Equality blog to all those interested in advancing civil rights protections and bias crimes legislation in our great state. If you decide to commit to this invitation, you could blog ever once in a while, once a week, twice a month, whatever works for you!

If you want to blog for equality, then I can get you the guidelines and the specific expectations and we can go from there.

Hope to hear from you soon.

Best,

brandon

communications@indianaequality.org

Joe Goode Performance Group

On Apri 18, 2009, the Fort Wayne Dance Collective will bring in the Joe Goode Performance Group, a renowned dance/theatre company from San Francisco, to Fort Wayne to perform at the Arts United Center.

Artistic Director Joe Goode will facilitate a workshop for young people, Friday April 17, 4-5:30 p.m. at the Fort Wayne Dance Collective, 437 East Berry Street, role modeling characteristics of an accomplished gay male artist as he guides participants to sculpt creative material that portrays their identity. To prepare the participants for this residency, the Fort Wayne Dance Collective will facilitate workshops prior to the residency called “See Me" that will provide creative tools to tell their personal stories through movement and performance text. In addition, the participants will be provided complementary tickets to attend the public performance of the Joe Goode Performance Group, April 18, 8 p.m. at the Arts United Center.

Fort Wayne Dance Collective Workshops will be held at IPFW  Kettler Hall Room 119, from 6-7:15 on April 2 and 9.  For more information or to register contact Liz Monnier (liz@fwdc.org) or call 424-6574.

Looking for the best summer OF YOUR LIFE?!?!?

I'm a college student. I need a job this summer. I realize the shape of our economy. 

Make money and create change at the same time. This is just a reminder that The Equality Federation Institute offers summer internships! For ten weeks this summer you could work with Indiana Equality.  The intern receives a stipend and online training from Federation Institute staff, as well as state and national leaders. They’ll also be the Equality Federation's guests at the 2009 Summer Meeting in St. Louis , MO.

The deadline for the summer session is March 31, 2009. 

Questions?  Email Renée at the Equality Federation

A Dose of Inspiration

I meet with local pastors in the North East part of Indiana on a weekly basis. I build relationships with them and urge them to create safe places for LGBT people in their churches and to be extremely cautious when they preach on homosexuality. After doing so many of these meetings and constantly being told that God wants to change me it becomes easy to lose hope. Hope that the work I am doing, that we are all doing, is changing anything. I've been feeling like this a lot lately. I came across this song though that gave me some inspiration and hope. I want to share that song with you today and hope it gives you the same hope and inspiration it gave me. Here is what the artist Rascal Flatts who perform this song have to say about it...

Gary LeVox from the band says, "We actually have some gay people that work with us, and we have a lot of friends that are gay, too, and I know that this song has inspired them. I know that coming out was tough on their parents and on them and the whole entire family. For a long time, some of them didn’t get to hear ‘I love you’ from their dads or be accepted in that way. It’s helped a lot of our friends."

Follow the link for this inspiring song...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fAMGsJ38_cg&feature=player_embedded

3rd Row Seats to see Kate Clinton!

That’s right – Indiana Equality is offering a limited number of REDUCED tickets to their Pre-show Reception on Friday, April 3rd with Kate Clinton!

Indiana Equality is co-presenting with Branching OUT Productions a special pre-show VIP reception with Kate Clinton from 5:30 PM to 6:45 PM in the lobby of the Indiana Roof Ballroom.

We have a limited number of Reception Tickets left for ONLY $60 (see group rates below) which includes:
-Opportunity to meet Kate and have a one on one conversation with her
-Enjoy camaraderie and the opportunity to meet other LGBT community members
-Have some of the best seats in the house to see Kate perform
-Avoid the madness of that last minute rush – you’ll be able to grab that early-bird parking spot, enjoy some good company and laugh!
-Light hors d'oeuvres and a cash bar will be available.

GROUP RATES FOR RECEPTION TICKETS
Get a party of 10 together  and we’ll reduce your VIP Reception ticket!  $500 buys you a table of 10, prime seats in the 3rd Row and an opportunity to meet Kate!  If you are interested in a group rate, please contact John Joanette at 317-250-5308.  All group sales MUST go directly through John.

Book Keeper needed!

IYG is looking for a bookkeeper!  This person needs to be able to work 8 - 10 hours per week (preferably during the day) and be familiar with QuickBooks accounting software.  This is a paid position.

 
Please send an email to Mary Byrne by clicking HERE or call 317-541-8726.

Kate Clinton & IE!

Join us for a special event before the show! RSVP HERE

"Harsh Realities": Transgender Youth Face Extreme Harassment

On Tuesday Gay, Lesbian and Straight Education Network (GLSEN) announced the release of a new study discussing transgender youth and the victimization they face in schools.

The report details transgender youth having extremely high levels of victimization in school, even more so than their non-transgender lesbian, gay and bisexual peers. But they are also more likely to speak out about LGBT issues in the classroom, interestingly enough.

Nearly 90% of transgender students experienced verbal harassment at school in the past year because of their sexual orientation and gender expression, more than 50% experienced physical harassment because of their sexual orientation and gender expression and more than a 25% experienced physical assault because of their sexual orientation and gender expression.

"Harsh Realities demonstrates the urgent need for educators, policymakers and all who care about safe schools to address the disproportionate victimization of transgender students and to improve the knowledge and understanding of all members of the school community about issues related to gender and gender expression," said GLSEN Executive Director Eliza Byard. "It is important to note, however, that in the face of extreme harassment, transgender students are resilient and taking the lead to bring up LGBT issues in school."

To check out the report, take a look here.

Intern with Indiana Equality and the Equality Federation!

The Equality Federation Institute offers summer internships! For ten weeks this summer you could work with Indiana Equality.  The intern receives a stipend and online training from Federation Institute staff, as well as state and national leaders. They’ll also be the Equality Federation's guests at the 2009 Summer Meeting in St. Louis , MO.

The deadline for the summer session is March 31, 2009.

Questions?  Email Renée at the Equality Federation.  

Fort Wayne Pride 1st annual GLBT & Straight Ally Prom

From Fort Wayne Pride

Fort Wayne Pride is proud to announce our 1st annual GLBT & Straight Ally Prom. The event will be held on April 18th at The Columbia Club Banquet Hall right above Columbia Street West bar. This is an all ages event, so please get the word out to everyone including our under 21 friends. Admission for this event is $6 a person/ $10 couple.

Come dance the night away while staying true to yourself!  Email Nikki Fultz, Director FW Pride, at nikki@fortwaynepride.org or call for info at 260-602-6860. Advance ticket sales available.

We are looking for some out high school students who would like to spread the word amongst your friends, so please contact us at nikki@fortwaynepride.org if you are interested in being part of this.