Indiana Equality

Take Action Across the Nation

• Washington
  

• • It will be Election Day in a little over a month and one of the tightest fights is shaping up in Washington over domestic partnership protection. Washington Families Standing Together organized a very strong campaign, but they still need help. Take Action 

•  DOMA
  
• • State by state, we've been achieving marriage equality. In the last year alone, Vermont, New Hampshire, Maine, and Iowa have joined Massachusetts and Connecticut to recognize the marriages of same-sex couples. Despite these victories, the Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA) prohibits federal recognition of these marriages.  Many states use DOMA as their model for discrimination.  Repealing DOMA is a crucial step forward.  Take Action
• Healthcare Reform
• • Like all Americans, LGBT people have seen health care costs skyrocket and insurance get priced beyond the reach of many working people. Even people who can afford insurance can wake up to find that they're no longer covered by huge companies who only care about the bottom line. In most of the country where our relationships aren't recognized, LGBT families are especially at risk because our partners and children aren't covered by employer health insurance plans. LGBT people often face unfair barriers to accessing even routine health care. Take Action
     

Susan Stryker on Transgender History in America

IFI: State of Denial

by Don Sherfick

I suppose the conventional wisdom would be to cheer and wildly applaud the Indiana Family Institute for its press release last week, with headline: INDIANA FAMILY INSTITUTE DENOUNCES WESTBORO BAPTIST CHURCH’S MESSAGE: ‘'GOD HATES FAGS’'.

But as the Fifth Dimension song (One Less Bell to Answer) goes, “I should be happy, but all I do is cry.”

Indeed it’s a crying shame that after such a great beginning title, IFI’s  one-page uttering manages to devote only four sentences, for a total of just over 100 of its nearly 500 words, which include a 100 word footnote denying any anti-gay motive for Matthew Shephard's brutal death, to the infamous band from Topeka Kansas.  The balance of the release essentially equates the rantings of WBC pastor Fred Phelps with whatIFI terms the desire for “political gain” of those working to protect GLBT citizens from bigoted attacks.

Why this obsession with total denial on the part of IFI and its colleagues Focus on the Family, the Family Research Council, and the Alliance Defense Fund?  It’s  one thing for lawyers to disagree about whether a particular case involves a particular motive beyond a reasonable doubt.  It’s quite another to systematically pooh-pooh the significant amount of evidence that even in the 21^st Century many LGBT folks live in fear of violence or at least harassment because of who they are and who they love.  In Matt Shephard's case, the evidence is compelling that he paid the ultimate price.

IFI’s admonition to both the nutty Westboro Baptist Church crowd as well as what Curt Smith pejoratively terms, in usual IFI fashion, “self-identified gay activist groups promoting propaganda” is to work to strengthen marriage (of only the opposite variety, of course) to eradicate the scourge of substance abuse.  Apparently letting Adam and Steve or Ellen and Eve tie the knot legally will invariably produce the next generation of junkies.

If you deny that something exists, you don’t have to seriously try and address it or how to deal with it effectively, as in a serious discourse concerning hate crimes legislation.  Come on, IFI, let’s leave the Big Denial stuff to Iran’s President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad in his goofy rants about the Holocaust.  And let's leave The Rightous Right's "family sized" sized version on the wrong side of history where it belongs.

So thanks (I guess) IFI, for the nice-sounding banner headline, but not the rest of the press release.  Not to worry, though: I’ll still alert you if I spot any “GOD HATES THE INDIANA FAMILY INSTITUTE” signs on my next trip to Topeka.  Love the denier, hate the denial, I always say.

 

Four Years and Counting

The Human Rights Campaign (HRC) has given Eli Lilly and Company for the fourth consecutive year a 100% rating on their Corporate Equality Index for 2010.  Lilly has once again is being recognized as one of the Best Places to Work for LGBT Equality.

The Corporate Equality Index ratings are based on the HRC’s survey questions employers about employer-provided domestic partner insurance coverage, sexual orientation diversity training availability, non-discrimination policies, and an employer-sponsored LGBT employee resource group among other criteria.

As a resident of Indianapolis, I’m extremely proud of Lilly’s continued willingness to support LGBT employees.  Even as HRC has raised the standards yearly, Eli Lilly has determinedly met and/or surpassed those challenges. 

Bob Amitage, senior VP and general counsel at Lilly, and the executive sponsor of GLEAM, Lilly’s LGBT employee affinity group, “We are extremely proud to have received this honor, and see this as further evidence we are making progress in creating fully welcoming workplace for our gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgender employees.”

Even though I’ve seen and/or driven by Lilly’s Headquarters for more years than I’d care to admit, I was not aware of their stance on LGBT equality until I was searching for a topic that would mean something to the Hoosier LGBT community.  Twenty years ago, Lilly established GLEAM, which stands for gay and lesbian employees, advocates and more.  GLEAM is the employee affinity group at Lilly that is committed to offering a welcome, safe, and productive working environment regardless of one’s sexual orientation.  I’ll not only be seeing Lilly as a major pharmaceutical and research company when I pass their Headquarters but also a company that is dedicated to each of their employees regardless of sexual orientation or gender identity.

Check out HRC's Corporate Equality Index here!

Elkhart Training

Help Ensure Equality for ALL Hoosiers!

Sign Up For Organizing for LGBT Rights

The Unitarian Universalist Fellowship of Elkhart (UUFE) will host a organizing training for LGBT civil rights on Saturday, October 10th, 2009.  Starting at 10:00 am, ''Organizing for LGBT Rights: Finding the Road in Indiana'' aims to empower local citizens to engage in the political process while achieving LGBT civil rights.

The training will include sessions on organizing in small towns and rural areas, enacting local human rights ordinances, bias crimes and bias crime laws, electoral politics, the legislative process, how to interact with the public, and how to work with communities of faith.

The training comes at a time that coincides with Indiana Equality's Human Rights Ordinance Project efforts towards amending local human rights ordinances to include sexual orientation and gender identity.

''Sometimes we need training to give us support in numbers, we need to learn how to reach others with information and we need to simply understand how the legislative process works.  The civil rights I have cannot be enjoyed until all people regardless of age, race, gender, sexual orientation and gender identity can say they, too, have the same civil rights.  I believe this workshop will help to meet those ends'' explained Pam Kramer, Chair of the UUFE Steering Committee charged with organizing the event.

Among the training facilitators will be notable Azariah Southworth, a popular gay Christian television host, will lead a session on working with communities of faith.

Space is limited and interested parties must RSVP by October 4th. For questions or to RSVP, contact Pam Kramer at RN_Pamela@yahoo.com .

The Unitarian Universalist Fellowship of Elkhart is a welcoming community encouraging religious freedom, nurturing individual spiritual and ethical growth, celebrating diversity, and promoting a just and sustainable world. Located in Elkhart, Indiana, UUFE is a religious and/or spiritual "home" for individuals and families throughout the Michiana area - drawing its membership from Elkhart, South Bend, Mishawaka, Bristol, Goshen, Middlebury, Edwardsburg, and the list goes on.
 
Indiana Equality's Human Rights Ordinance Project is supported 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.  For more information regarding IE's HRO project, please visit IE's website at www.indianaequality.org , e-mail Indiana Equality at ieinfo@indianaequality.org  or call (888) 567-0750.

Update on Westboro Baptist Church in Indianapolis

Tomorrow, September 24th, the Westboro Baptist Church will be protesting a local Indianapolis high school production of The Laramie Project. A group that promotes hate against many groups, including lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender individuals, the Westboro Church plans on picketing North Central High School from 2:55 pm to 3:30 pm—just as classes end for the day.

In addition to the disruption at the high school, Westboro plans to stage disturbances outside the Jewish Community Center (JCC) in Indianapolis.

Honoring the desire of both North Central High School and the Jewish Community Center for there to be no counter-protest, a call for donations has been organized for the North Central High School Gay Straight Alliance, Indianapolis Youth Group, and the Jewish Community Center.

The purpose of the fundraising is to counter the horrible message spread by the Westboro Baptist Church. The “Phelps-A-Thon” will take donations for every minute the church protests and will share the proceeds between the North Central High School Gay/Straight Alliance and Indiana Youth Group.

More information and to make a donation can be found here.

Please also consider purchasing a ticket to North Central’s production of The Laramie Project. The play will be shown at 7:00 pm on September 24th, 25th, and 26th. Tickets will cost seven dollars and can be purchased at the door. More information can be found by calling the school at 317-259-5301. 

Indy Pride Scholarship Program

Each year, Indy Pride, Inc. provides scholarships to students who have worked to make Indiana a better place for the GLBT community. Monies for the scholarship are obtained through fundraising events such as Laugh Out Loud and the annual IN Pride Festival.

The scholarship deadline this year is October 1st. Scholarships are awarded in November at the annual Indy Pride Community Thanksgiving Event.

Once the application has been completed, mail applications to:

Indy Pride, Inc Scholarship Committee
P.O. Box 44403
Indianapolis, IN 46244-0403

All applications must be postmarked by October 1st to be considered.

Applications will be reviewed/awarded by the Scholarship Committee. It is imperative the applicants communicate their acceptance as soon as possible. Awarded applicants have through the end of December 2010 to utilize their well deserved scholarship. All checks will be payable to the appropriate institution’s Bursar’s Office. Therefore, please be complete with all necessary information to avoid complications/delays.

APPLICATION PROCESS

I. Personal Information: 
NOTE: All of the below information is a requirement to be eligible.

• Name
• Current mailing address
• Current Phone numbers that apply
• E-mail address
• Name of school or institution
• Appropriate office address such as Bursar’s office, Book store, etc.
• Telephone number(s)
• Current year in school
• Major and GPA
• Letter of reference from a faculty advisor, a GLBT organization or other appropriate individual such as an employer. Please include correct addresses and phone numbers for reference check.

II: Essay Questions:
NOTE: All questions must be answered to be eligible.

• How do you want to use your education in your life?
• How could this enhance the GLBT community?
• Discuss your personal involvement and/or your participation in organizations you are or have been directly associated with that support the GLBT within your community or on campus.
• There has been a request of you to make a presentation to a group of your peers discussing a health issue (HIV/AIDS, breast cancer, heart disease, etc.) that affects the GLBT community. Identify main points which clearly would illustrate the appropriate messages(s) such as prevention, treatment, and statistics. Also, if you were to include one individual to assist as a guest speaker, who would you select and why?
• How would you use this scholarship money if awarded?

Music to LGBT's Ears

I’m not sure who coined the phrase, “Anything worth having is worth fighting for”, but it seems to be an apt phrase for the LGBT community in Nashville, Tennessee. This past Tuesday night, in a 24 to 15 vote, the Nashville Metro Council passed a measure that will keep city and county employees from being discriminated against due to their sexual orientation or gender identity. It was a long time coming as the measure was first introduced in 2003. As with anything controversial, there is always opposition and anti-discrimination rights for LGBT folks found theirs in the form of evangelicals and conservatives. The measure was defeated with a tie-breaking vote against the measure by then Vice Mayor.

I love to laugh and while reading the news article, I was given a chance to have a nice little chuckle thanks in part to the local chapters of the Family Action Council and Eagle Forum. Both started an email campaign meant to play on the fears and dislikes of anyone or anything not considered normal or mainstream. They warned that the ordinance would force people to use public courthouse rest rooms in which cross dressers would also use. And here I thought that the main reason to use the rest room was to relieve a biological need-- not to socialize. I’m pretty sure that in every rest room I’ve used, there are these things called stalls in which you have a semblance of privacy. If you’re that afraid to use the rest room because a "cross dresser" may have this insane need to utilize the facility as it was intended then might I suggest you hold it until you get home?

Just when I thought the article was getting more interesting, I read something that had my temper flaring. It seems that Council member Jim Hodge has the perfect solution for any discrimination that LGBT encounter. He says that any gays or lesbians should simply stop being gay or lesbian. This guy was really elected to a Council with that kind of mindset? I’m totally dumbfounded that such a stupid statement could ever come out of somebody’s mouth no matter how ill-informed he or she is.

However, I digress. The important thing is that the vote is a positive step in the right direction for equal rights for the LGBT community in Tennessee. Councilwoman Megan Barry was the main sponsor of the bill. “I believe that all employees deserve protection, and it’s my responsibility as a council member to make sure that happens,” she said. We need more Council members like her. Equal rights and anti-discrimination policies should be for everyone not just a select few.

Nashville Mayor Karl Dean had previously promised to sign the bill if it was passed.

Check out the article here.

The End of Pride (Season)

Recently I marked the sixth Pride event I attended this summer, having worked at four of them for Indiana Equality.  From June (INDY) through July (Fort Wayne) the end of August (Lafayette), Indiana Equality has been chatting with Hoosiers of all orientations about the need to unite and work together to secure GLBT civil rights statewide. 

 

To be sure, there have been many other events that IE has attended – and so many of our officers and volunteers have spread out across the state from Louisville's Kentuckiana and Spencer's Pride to South Bend's Picnic in the Park (October 3^rd).  We've been reaching out to educate our neighbors and enlist (yes, recruit) more volunteers to lobby, organize and fundraise to defeat our opponents.

 

And in that time, you might have seen the City Council of Goshen both approve and then disapprove of adding sexual orientation and gender identity to their Human Relations Ordinance.  Now, you need to know that literally hundreds of hours of local and statewide effort were put into this fight, which from my perspective is not yet finished.   The misinformation spread by the right wing won the battle, but cannot win the war over the goodwill of the local citizens of Goshen.  I hope we can all encourage local organizers of Goshen for Civil Rights, Eric Kanagy and Michelle Marquiss, to keep the faith and continue to work to build a working coalition.  And thanks to IE Field Organizer Dino Sierp for the very hard work of supporting our Goshen friends on behalf of the whole state.

 

So, after all this outreach and discussion across the state, it's time to organize and train ourselves to be leaders in the upcoming struggles.  That's why IE and IEA have set up a variety of training opportunities across the state – check the blogs posted earlier for sign-up information.  We hope to have Key Advocates in place before the next General Assembly so that we can put a friendly, well-informed local face on GLBT issues for every senator and representative.  The Organizing Conferences in Elkhart (Oct 10) and Indianapolis (Sept 18) are designed to help local advocates get plugged in and connected to make a difference locally.

 

You know, this can all seem like a lot of work.  Travel is enlightening, but it also hits hard on the energy (and wallet).  People often think that I'm visiting their city on the IE dime - -and are astounded to find out that I'm actually paying for all this out of my own wallet.  I don't mind doing that when I get the chance to talk to people across the state -– to support them in their local struggles, to make as much difference as I can, to be there to offer encouragement and to educate our community in every city in Indiana. 

 

And I am far from the only individual who is spending time and money and effort.. what seems often like a second job.. to make the change needed for our community.   If you cannot be actively involved, I would urge you at least to sit down and write a check to Indiana Equality Action or Indiana Equality and do your part to help!

American Violet

In case you haven’t heard, ACLU-Indiana is presenting the highly acclaimed film American Violet THIS Thursday (9/17) at 7pm at the Walker Theatre, 617 Indiana Avenue, a first time showing in Indy.  There is no cost or registration needed to attend.

American Violet is a narrative film based on true events, centering on a 24-year-old African-American single mother who is wrongfully arrested during a drug sweep in Hearne, Texas. Rather than take a plea, she decides it is better to fight and lose than to submit and be victimized.  The ACLU took on this case and won.

The film stars Academy Award nominee Alfre Woodard, Emmy Award winner Charles S. Dutton, Michael O’Keefe, Tim Blake Nelson, Will Patton, Xzibit and newcomer Nicole Beharie

Hope you can make it to the film and show your support for ACLU of Indiana in their dedication to protect the freedoms guaranteed to Indiana residents and businesses by the Indiana and United States Constitutions.

The film is being sponsored by ACLU, Madame CJ Walker Theatre, Mays Chemical Company, Indianapolis Urban League and the IU School of Law.