Indiana Equality

Hate Crimes Protections Now Signed Into Law

It took much too long, more than a decade. And it came at too great a price: the brutal killings of Matthew Shepard and James Byrd, Jr. are just two among the thousands of crimes motivated by hate and bigotry.

But this week, the president put pen to paper and fulfilled a campaign promise, the signing of the Matthew Shepard and James Byrd, Jr. Hate Crimes Prevention Act, extending the federal hate crimes statute to include sexual orientation and gender identity along with race, religion, gender, national origin and disability. Our deepest hope and strong belief is that this new law will save lives. Now, lawmakers and the president have made an imperative statement to the country and the world: Our nation will no longer tolerate hate-motivated violence against lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) people.

We have worked long and hard for this and its passage is historic.

According to the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Uniform Crime Reporting Program, there are nearly 8,000 hate crime-related incidents annually, and more than 1,200 of those incidents involve violence based on sexual orientation or gender identity. And even more alarming, while the overall occurrence of hate crimes is declining nationally, hate crimes against LGBT people have been increasing. This year alone, we saw hate crimes trials in the brutal killings of two transgender women, Angie Zapata and Lateisha Green.

As a result of this legislation, if local jurisdictions are unable or unwilling to investigate or prosecute hate crimes based on sexual orientation or gender identity, the Justice Department can now step in. And that’s why the LGBT community never stopped working for this historic day. 

This legislation not only has practical value, but is a symbol of our progress. It is the first time in the nation’s history that Congress has passed explicit protections on the basis of sexual orientation and gender identity. We could not have reached this moment without the powerful support of our allies who stood with us every step of the way. We are deeply grateful to civil rights, civic, faith and disability rights groups, as well as law enforcement and district attorney organizations that worked side by side with the LGBT advocates. We are equally thankful to Congress, President Obama and members of his administration for passing and signing this bill into law.

While today we celebrate this marker of progress, we must recognize it as only one of the building blocks to full equality and demand that it be just a first step toward equal treatment under federal law in all areas of our lives. And we must focus on the next step.

The passage of the Matthew Shepard and James Byrd, Jr. Hate Crimes Prevention Act provides us with an opportunity. We must use this moment to educate and keep the momentum going so that we can continue to make progress on the local, state and federal levels. Yes, legislation takes a long time — often years of work. Yet, our community is on the cusp of passing much-needed protections.

This week, we call upon lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people, families and allies to take this opportunity of increased media and public attention on hate crimes to educate co-workers, classmates, neighbors, family members and friends about our lives, and about why we need not only their friendship and love, but their vocal support for a more just and equal America for LGBT people. If your members of Congress voted in support of hate crimes legislation, call them and thank them. Then ask them to be there for us again when the vote turns to workplace nondiscrimination, military service and partnership rights.

With your help and our collective pressure, equality is within reach. 
When talking about the need for hate crimes legislation, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi said: “The time for debate is over.”

She was right. 

Just as the time has finally come for stronger hate crime protections, it is also time to pass an inclusive Employment Non-Discrimination Act, repeal “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” and the so-called Defense of Marriage Act, and ensure that health care, economic policy and immigration reform incorporate the needs of LGBT people. 

The time for debate is over. 

Signed by:

Jo Kenny, AFL-CIO Pride at Work

Terry Stone, Centerlink: The Community of LGBT Centers

Gabe Javier, Consortium of Higher Education LGBT Resource Professionals

Marianne Duddy-Burke, DignityUSA

Toni Broaddus, Equality Federation

Jennifer Chrisler, Family Equality Council

Evan Wolfson, Freedom to Marry

Lee Swislow, Gay & Lesbian Advocates & Defenders

Rebecca Allison, M.D., Gay & Lesbian Medical Association

Chuck Wolfe, Gay & Lesbian Victory Fund 

Eliza Byard, Gay, Lesbian and Straight Education Network

Marjorie Hill, Gay Men’s Health Crisis

Joe Solmonese, Human Rights Campaign

Rachel Tiven, Immigration Equality

Earl Fowlkes, International Federation of Black Prides 

Kevin M. Cathcart, Lambda Legal

Leslie Calman, Mautner Project: The National Lesbian Health Organization

Sharon Lettman, National Black Justice Coalition

Kate Kendell, National Center for Lesbian Rights

Mara Keisling, National Center for Transgender Equality 

Justin Nelson, National Gay & Lesbian Chamber of Commerce

Rea Carey, National Gay and Lesbian Task Force

Paul Kawata, National Minority AIDS Council

Kyle Bailey, National Stonewall Democrats

Greg Varnum, National Youth Advocacy Coalition

Sharon Stapel, New York Anti-Violence Project

Jody Michael Huckaby, PFLAG National

Aubrey Sarvis, Servicemembers Legal Defense Network

Michael Adams, Services and Advocacy for GLBT Elders (SAGE)

Obama to sign Hate Crimes Prevention Act

President Barack Obama is set to celebrate the enactment of the Matthew Shepard and James Byrd, Jr. Hate Crimes Prevention Act on Wednesday, October 28th, at 4:45 pm in the White House. The commemoration will include a reception in partnership with the David Bohnett Foundation.

HUD Proposes New Policies, Study Would ban discrimination based on gender identity

From The National Center for Transgender Equality:

(October 21, 2009, Washington, DC) The National Center for Transgender Equality praises the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) for announcing today that it will ensure that its programs are available to all, including LGBT people. Today’s announcement is historic, since HUD is the first federal agency so far to officially propose guidelines that would explicitly address discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity.

"The evidence is clear that some are denied the opportunity to make housing choices in our nation based on who they are and that must end," said HUD Secretary Shaun Donovan. "President Obama and I are determined that a qualified individual and family will not be denied housing choice based on sexual orientation or gender identity."

The proposals announced today include:

• Requiring that all who participate in HUD’s programs comply with all existing local and state non-discrimination ordinances;
• Specifying that Federal Housing Administration (FHA)-insured mortgage loans are given based on the credit-worthiness of the applicants, and not on other factors, such as sexual orientation and gender identity;
• Clarifying that in the public housing and Housing Choice Voucher program, the use of the term “family” includes all eligible lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people, couples and families; subsidized housing would be made available to all who need it, without discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity.

Also vitally important is today’s announcement by HUD that they are commissioning a national study of the discrimination that LGBT people face in housing, the first of its kind. To date there have been no federal studies to evaluate the extent of the problem.  

However, a recent study of 6,500 transgender people by NCTE and the Task Force showed just how fragile housing is for so many transgender people and why these new actions by the Obama Administration is so urgently needed. Among the findings:

• Only 32% of our sample reported home ownership compared to 68% of the general population;
• 19% report being denied an apartment or home because they are transgender;
• 19% have become homeless at some point in their lives.

NCTE’s Executive Director, Mara Keisling commented, “Housing is a basic right and a basic human need and these numbers show just how blatant the discrimination is that transgender people face every single day. Today’s actions by HUD will make a difference in a tremendous number of lives.  We are so pleased that the Obama administration continues to express through both action and words that it is committed to making sure that all federal government programs are accessible to all people.”

At the beginning of 2009, NCTE called upon each federal agency to issue a policy directive stating that it will ensure that individuals who receive services from that agency would not be discriminated against on the basis of gender identity or expression. NCTE also sought a prohibition of discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation or gender identity or expression in federally assisted housing programs.  HUD’s actions yesterday made substantial progress on both of these issues. We expect that other agencies will take similar action.

NCTE looks forward to working with the Obama Administration as these proposals move forward to ensure that everyone has access to housing and other government services.

From Abomination to Marching on Washington

This was forwarded to me and I gotta say its a good read. It's a Newsweek story on a man who goes from being on the far right, to actively achieving equality. 

Take a look. 

Hoosier Featured in Domestic Partnership Hearing

Indiana's own Bill Hendrix was featured in an HRC blogpost on a domestic partnership hearing. Check it out. 

October 15, 2009 3:36PM
Michael Cole

As we mentioned earlier today, Senate Homeland Security & Governmental Affairs Committee Chairman Joseph Lieberman (ID-CT) held a hearing this morning on S. 1102, the Domestic Partnership Benefits and Obligations Act (DPBO), which would extend equal employment benefits to domestic partners of federal employees.  An archived webcast of the hearing is now available...MORE

Make Sure to Save the Date!!

You know this is going to be the place to be this holiday!

On Thursday, December 10, 2009, friends and supporters will be gathering to celebrate the accomplishments of Indiana Equality and to raise needed funds to support our organization’s efforts for equal rights for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender Hoosiers.  

Now in its second year, the event, “Holiday IN the Old Northside” will take place at the home of local Realtor and supporter, Joe Everhart.  Located at 1238 N. Park Avenue, the 1873 Italianate house was known for decades as the home of the Saengerchor, a German social club. The home has been restored to its nineteenth-century appearance except for the basement where the German-styled bar has been retained in honor of the landmark’s social club era.

 

Once again this year, delectable soups, breads and desserts from local restaurants and chefs will be featured at the event. Live entertainment will be provided throughout the evening by Jessica Benge and Deb Mulins.  We hope that you can join us at our “Holiday IN the Old Northside” event on Thursday, December 10^th

RSVP

M/WBE Certification Workshop

The City of Indianapolis is offering a

 

FREE

Workshop Session For Minority, Women, and Veteran Business Owners

 

M/WBE CERTIFICATION WORKSHOP

Wednesday, October 28, 2009

 9:30 am – 11:30 am

Krannert Park  

605 S. High School Rd.  

327-7375

Indianapolis, IN

 

• Learn the application process.
• We will give instructions on how to complete certification.
• Question and answer session.
• Individual counseling one on one available.

 

Register now by calling Regina Buckner at (317) 327-5262

Seating is limited

 

 

Indiana University students form group to bring gay-allied fraternity to campus

Sigma Phi Beta Fraternity
P.O. Box 937, Tempe, AZ 85280

www.sigmaphibeta.org

CONTACT: Sam Holdren, Director of Communications

(888) 744-2382

samh@sigmaphibeta.org

October 8, 2009                                                                                    

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

 

Indiana University students form group to bring gay-allied fraternity to campus

 

Tempe, Arizona – Sigma Phi Beta Fraternity, an Arizona-based gay-allied fraternity, announced today the formation of an interest group at Indiana University in Bloomington, Indiana.  A group of five men at the university registered their group with the Fraternity’s national headquarters Monday, signaling their desire to establish a chapter on campus.

“We are thrilled to be working with students at Indiana University to create a unique, character-building space for gay and allied men within the traditional Greek fraternity system,” said Nathan Arrowsmith, Sigma Phi Beta Fraternity’s national president.  “In our short history, members of Sigma Phi Beta Fraternity have lived up to our core values of diversity, service, scholarship, leadership and brotherhood while breaking barriers that previously existed between the gay and straight communities.  We are hopeful that we can fulfill this vision at Indiana University, which is home to one of the oldest and largest Greek systems in the country.”

To establish a chapter, the members of the registered interest group must first complete several tasks.  Their next step is to petition Sigma Phi Beta Fraternity’s national board of directors for recognition as a colony, a process that involves establishing a relationship with Indiana University’s Greek Life office, recruiting other potential members, identifying a board of advisors, and submitting a mission statement to the Fraternity’s national headquarters. 

After a colony is formed, colony members would participate in a pledge education program to learn the Fraternity’s history and values while also building interpersonal, leadership and chapter management skills.  Those who successfully complete the program would be initiated as full members of the Fraternity.

Once a colony has demonstrated an ability to successfully recruit and educate new members about the mission, values and purpose of Sigma Phi Beta Fraternity, the national headquarters could grant an official chapter charter.

Sigma Phi Beta Fraternity is a nonprofit organization with the purpose of building character in gay, straight, bisexual and transgender men in college through social and meaningful activities.  The Fraternity was formed in 2003 as a chapter at Arizona State University (ASU).  The national organization was established in 2005.  Since forming as a national organization, Sigma Phi Beta Fraternity has been nationally recognized for raising the level of consciousness among leaders in the fraternity system about issues like transgender membership and immigration.  The founding chapter at ASU has also become a leader on campus, receiving the university’s Chapter of the Year award in February for the second year in a row.  For more information about Sigma Phi Beta Fraternity, visit www.sigmaphibeta.org.

 

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6th Annual Art for Life

RED PARTY FOR AIDS

Seeks Auction Donations

 

The 6th Annual Art for Life: Red Party for AIDS will be held on Friday, Nov. 20, 2009 at 7pm at Old National Bank in Downtown Evansville.  This year’s event will feature a silent auction, a live auction and a dance party. Cost to attend is $40 in advance and $45 at the door.

Auction donations are needed.  To donate an item in the Evansville area, contact Randy Lewis at 812-204-8562 or RandyLewis@insightbb.com or Wanda McCarter at 812-454-3220.

To donate an item in the Indianapolis area, contact Jason Grisell of the Indiana AIDS Fund at 429 E. Vermont Street Suite 300 in Indianapolis, by phone at 317-630-1805 ext. 204 or by e-mail at jgrisell@thfgi.org.

The event is organized by the Tri-State Alliance of Evansville.  30% of the proceeds benefit the HIV prevention efforts of the TSA Youth Group, 20% of the proceeds benefit the HIV prevention funding of the Indiana AIDS Fund, 30% of the proceeds benefit the emergency client assistance fund of the AIDS Resource Group of Evansville, and 20% of the proceeds benefit the purchase of clients to receive grocery store gift cards from the TSA AIDS Holiday Project.

For information about tickets or sponsorships, contact event chair Wally Paynter at 812-204-8562 or WallyPaynter@aol.com.  Memorial donations and checks for tickets can be mailed to Art for Life c/o TSA, PO Box 2901, Evansville, IN 47728; or they can be made online at www.TSAGL.org/donations.html.

 

House Passes Defense Bill With Hate Crimes Attached

From HRC:

(Washington) The U.S. House of Representatives passed the conference report for the FY 2010 Defense Authorization bill by a vote of 281 to 146, bringing critical hate crimes protections closer to becoming law than ever before. 

Earlier this week, the House voted down a last-ditch effort to eliminate the hate crimes provision from the bill, through a procedural effort called a motion to instruct conferees. 

The conference report now proceeds to the Senate for its final vote in Congress.  In July, the Senate voted to attach the Matthew Shepard Hate Crimes Prevention Act to the Defense Authorization measure and is expected to approve the conference report as early as next week. 

President Obama has repeatedly pledged to sign the bill when it reaches his desk.

“We are closer than ever before to protecting Americans from hate violence thanks to today’s action by the House,” said HRC President Joe Solmonese.  “The day is within sight when lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people will benefit from updating our nation’s hate crimes laws and giving local law enforcement the tools they need to combat hate violence.”  

The Defense Authorization conference report removed a provision adopted in the Senate which would make the death penalty available for hate crimes.  In addition, the hate crimes provision has been renamed “The Matthew Shepard and James Byrd, Jr. Hate Crimes Prevention Act,” honoring the memory of another victim of hate violence – in the same year as Matthew Shepard – an African-American man who was dragged to death in Jasper, Texas.  

“We are so grateful for the leadership of our many allies in Congress, and particularly of Senators Leahy, Levin, Collins and Reid and Representatives Conyers, Kirk, Baldwin and the Speaker in ensuring that the hate crimes provision remained part of this authorization bill.  Of course, we cannot forget the tireless efforts of Senator Kennedy on this issue and it is fitting that we will award the first ever Edward M. Kennedy National Leadership Award to Judy and Dennis Shepard, Matthew’s parents and long-time champions of this effort, on Saturday,” said Solmonese.

The Matthew Shepard and James Byrd, Jr. Hate Crimes Prevention Act gives the Justice Department the power to investigate and prosecute bias-motivated violence where the perpetrator has selected the victim because of the person’s actual or perceived race, color, religion, national origin, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity or disability.

 It provides the Justice Department with the ability to aid state and local jurisdictions either by lending assistance or, where local authorities are unwilling or unable, by taking the lead in investigations and prosecutions of violent crime resulting in death or serious bodily injury that were motivated by bias.

It also makes grants available to state and local communities to combat violent crimes committed by juveniles, train law enforcement officers, or to assist in state and local investigations and prosecutions of bias motivated crimes.

This legislation was first introduced in the 105th Congress.  Since that time, the House and Senate have each voted five times in favor of its passage.