The dusting of snow that fell over Lafayette today, reminded me again that we're truly ready to turn the wheel and another calendar page soon. It's easy to forget that when you are caught up every day in just making it through the weekly to-do list and not able to step back and see the broader view.
And sometimes, a crisp white blanket of snow covers all the ugliness and in some odd fashion brings to my mind a sense of hopeful anticipation that things can and will be better in that coming new year. My friends recognize this sort of corny can-do optimistic idealism and smirk and shake their heads. But I've always felt that things can be changed for the better – and if not, then what are we here for?
This past year in terms of LGBT issues has been a mixed bag. On the national level, the usual fires on equal marriage rights and equality for all regardless of sexual orientation and gender identity/expression burn on. The downs? Maine's disappointing change of heart and New York's inability to see its duty correctly. The ups? Iowa – and New Hampshire – and Connecticut and DC –oh my!.. with a dash of realism thrown in by waverers like New Jersey. And the success in Congress of the Matthew Shepard and James Byrd Act – adding sexual orientation to the federal hate crimes laws – was a milestone achievement that has already been overlooked.
Two new phenomenons reared their ugly heads. On the 40th anniversary of Stonewall, we witnessed the resurgence of police misbehavior in Fort Worth and Atlanta. And then the national gay press began to fold like a house of cards from DC to Atlanta. It's probably part and parcel of the problems that all newspapers are having due to our reliance on the Internet to share information and our lives. I'll admit that I am that romantic that actually needs to feel the paper and hear the snap as I open it – to know that I am a literate soul.
In Indiana, things are relatively calm – albeit not for lack of trying on all sides. While Indiana Equality Action was once again effective in forestalling another marriage amendment, the time and energy wasted on such nonsense drew the community away from the more basic needs of civil rights protections. In case you missed that fight, the Senate Republican Caucus failed to even take up the issue in a hearing. This is the worst defeat the measure has received in the five times the conservatives have tried to pass the measure. The only time it passed both houses of the Indiana General Assembly was 2005 when both were controlled by Republicans.
IEA is implementing a statewide strategy of support for localities which plan to add sexual orientation and gender identity/ expression to their local civil rights codes. This is part of the Tides Foundation grant that we received last year and Dino Sierp has been our point person for the effort. We've been involved in both Goshen and South Bend heavily, but the effort has taken her and the officers across the state throughout the year. I have myself traveled from South Bend to Evansville, Fort Wayne to Columbus, Richmond and Bloomington to Chicago. And I never cease to be amazed that most non-LGBT Hoosiers are unaware that you can be fired or denied housing based on SO and GI. We have a whole lot of educating to be done – even within the community and our potential allies. (And a lot of need for YOUR participation! www.indianaequalityaction.org )
You know, there was some controversy in the community of Goshen about Indiana Equality being involved in their local fight to add SO and GI to nondiscrimination laws. And as a non-Indianapolis resident, I understand the resentment that comes from people feeling as if so-called "experts" are telling locals what to do and how. Small town folks (and Lafayette qualifies there) feel like they know best what's good for their town. And they are right. But IE and IEA have stepped up this past year to help through providing good research, supportive ideas for organizing and strategizing to maximize the efforts and have a successful outcome. This is surely no different than the way in which the Right Wing groups swooped down on Goshen to "save the day" from outside. The main effort in Goshen was and always would be the locals who wanted to treat their fellow citizens fairly. And that is the way it should and will work across the state. We are currently working with other cities as well to accomplish our ultimate goal – to bring civil rights protections to all Hoosiers.
What I find most disappointing is our frustrated attempts to get some traction in the General Assembly on issues most basic to LGBT Hoosier families – basic civil rights protections for all, bias crimes protections for all categories, health decision-making rights for partners, and enforcement of the hate crimes reporting law and school bullying rules. These positive and necessary moves are constantly being undermined by the conservatives' obsession with a non-starter issue – the marriage amendment. And of course, obstruction is par for the course. And the citizen legislature – especially in this year's short session (ending in Mid-March) will unlikely have much time or stomach for anything that falls outside the realm of taxes, economy, budget or taxes. (Did I mention taxes?)
Delayed or denied – justice will ultimately prevail. Sitting back and being cynical will be small comfort to the families who need our support. Just as Father Time watches that ball drop in a few days, we too must be wise and patient, while working hard behind the scenes to change the small corner of time in which we reside.
I wish you and yours a wonderful winter season and rest, so that we might be able to rejoin the fight renewed and ready to succeed together!
