HJR-6: What Can Indiana Learn From North Carolina?
By now most LGBT Hoosiers are aware that a proposed state constitutional amendment has won the approval of North Carolina Voters. This amendment will write discrimination into the NC state constitution; a disappointing setback to our brothers and sisters in the Tarheel State who worked diligently in opposition. And the numbers were not close: 61% for the amendment, 39% against. (of those voting, of course, and not of the total NC population in what was still a relatively low-turnout May primary).
So what does this signal for Indiana? HJR-6 has similar language to the NC amendment: It not only bans same sex marriage but also civil unions and domestic partnerships, and who knows what else. (It’s even more draconian because at least the NC amendment says private contracts will still be valid and courts can enforce them…HJR-6 makes no distinction between state entities and private ones in its broad “shall not be recognized” approach.)
If the General Assembly passes HJR-6 a second time next January (as it did in 2010) will Hoosiers follow North Carolina’s path in November 2014?
Some think the “lesson learned” from North Carolina is that too few voters there really understood what their amendment was about. They heard only “preserving the traditional definition of marriage” and not the broader idea that ANY type of legal union between same sex, or any unmarried couples, would be tolerated. But polling has demonstrated that those folks who understood the full scope of the NC amendment were far more inclined to vote against it, even if they had reservations about “’gay’ marriage”.
We in IE are working diligently with other LGBT organizations across the Hoosier state to ensure that this type of discrimination is not placed within our state’s constitution. For information on how you can help, please contact us via Facebook or at Communications@indianaequality.org
ELLIPTICAL INDIANA: STANDING FOR EQUALITY, LOVE AND JUSTICE
Announcing the tour, “Elliptical Indiana: Standing for Equality, Love and Justice”. Elliptical Indiana will be focusing on engaging people in discussion regarding House Joint Resolution 6, HJR-6. This is a proposed amendment to the Indiana Constitution. The resolution or proposed amendment states: “Only a marriage between one (1) man and one (1) woman shall be valid or recognized as marriage in Indiana. A legal status identical or substantially similar to that of marriage for unmarried individuals shall not be valid or recognized.” As you can tell this resolution is completely lacking in equality, love and justice. Just to be clear, we are conducting this tour to promote the defeat of this resolution.
In order to attract attention and draw people into conversation, I am riding a rather unusual vehicle. Imagine an elliptical trainer that you might see at any fitness center, put some wheels on it, and you have the vehicle. The manufacturer is ElliptiGO and you can view a demonstration video on their web site ElliptiGO.com. I can assure you from my training rides that it gets attention and provides those discussion opportunities which are vital to the tours success. The inspiration for this tour comes from Lars Clarson, a Lutheran minister who toured the country on a unicycle advocating for gay rights. His journey is described in his book, Straight into Gay America.
The tour will be departing from the Spencer PRIDE Festival on June 2 and will conclude with the July 4th parade in Bloomington. I plan to collect signatures from people who will pledge to vote against this resolution if it gets to the ballot in 2014. I hope to present these signatures to a member of Indiana’s legislature at the parade. Elliptical Indiana will cover the entire state. The current plan is to partition the state into quadrants with Indianapolis at the center. Elliptical Indiana will spend approximately a week in each quadrant. Elliptical Indiana will cover the southwest quadrant first, then the southeast, followed by the northwest and concluding with the northeast. Elliptical Indiana will be visiting festivals, farmer’s markets, vacation destinations, bicycle tours, cities and towns. In addition to the conversations along the way, we will be conducting workshops at venues where we can get scheduled. The workshop was developed by the Fair-Talk.org group and will present information about HJR-6, offer strategies and encouragement to participants for talking about this issue with their social networks, and provide an opportunity to practice some conversations.
This is an advocacy tour rather than a fundraiser. I expect there will be donations offered along the way. I will be splitting any donations received with four groups with which I am affiliated: Fair-Talk, White River Valley PFLAG, Rainbow Rights Task Force of the Unitarian Universalist Church of Bloomington, and Indiana Equality.
Sincerely,
Philip Cooper
812 339-1722
4160 W Middle CT
Bloomington, IN 47403-1840
IE Praises President Obama’s Historic Announcement
Indiana Equality is proud that President Obama has taken this historic step to endorse full marriage equality.
It’s been a long time coming. Rarely do national leaders of any political party embrace such a bold and historic change. We applaud the President, and urge Hoosiers to enthusiastically support his call for full marriage equality.
The President’s suggestion regarding federal DOMA laws needs to be studies for its full effect on Indiana’s marriage discrimination laws and any proposed Amendments. But for now, we salute this historic and affirming move.
Thank you for embracing equality!
IE and IEA Reposition for Win
On April 14, 2012, the Boards of Indiana Equality and Indiana Equality Action met to consider options for grounding the organizations in the best possible financial position to win against HJR-6 and to create a more inclusive Indiana. Unanimously and as a result of thorough deliberation, the Boards voted to reorganize both IE and IEA under the terms of bankruptcy.
Over the past years we have been privileged to fight for the basic human rights and dignities of many Hoosiers, with your help. The fight is far from finished, and we are far from finished.
The decision to reorganize under bankruptcy was not made lightly, as one can certainly imagine. Our all-volunteer organization has been operating under a very lean, shoestring budget to strengthen our grassroots efforts and collaboration across the state, which makes this decision additionally painful.
But we must be honest, as our new leadership demands. IE/IEA have had a person in a position of trust in the near past who has not been faithful to what many would consider good fiduciary responsibilities. We have lost money, and are actively pursuing resolutions to the issues surrounding that situation.
As difficult as this decision is, it is the most responsible, both fiscally and politically. We owe it to you to be good stewards of your faith and trust in us, and that optimism is oftentimes expressed in financial donations. We see your faces, we hear your stories. We fight with and for you, for all of us. That is why we must take this step—so we can move forward in a position of strength.
IE and IEA look forward to serving LGBTQIA Hoosiers from a stronger financial and political vantage point and will continue the grassroots work necessary to create nothing less than full equality for all!
The Board of Indiana Equality Action
The Board of Indiana Equality
P.O. Box 20621
Indianapolis, IN 46220-0621
888.567.0750
SBCSC Considering Updating Nondiscrimination Policy
IMPORTANT: Tonight, the school board of the South Bend Community School Corporation is considering amending its nondiscrimination policy to include sexual orientation and gender identity.
Please do two things:
1. Write school board members today to ask them to update the district’s nondiscrimination policy to include sexual orientation and gender identity. Email addresses:
rogerschoolmail@gmail.com, stephaniespivey4sbcsc@yahoo.com, jay@jaycaponigro.com, jstancati@comcast.net, bsniadecki@att.net, francisj79@aol.com, michelle.engel.sbcsc@gmail.com
2. If you are able, at 6PM tonight, come to this evening’s school board meeting on the third floor of the Administration Building, 215 South St. Joseph Street. (Parking at the Century Center.)
Please wear purple as a sign of support. Agenda: http://www.boarddocs.com/in/sbcsc/Board.nsf/Public
Unable to attend? School Board meetings are broadcast live on WETL 91.7 FM.
Thank you for embracing equality!
-Indiana Equality Action
Local Organizations Denounce IPS’ Expulsion Efforts
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
Contact: Rob Lange, Communications Chair, Indiana Equality Action and Indiana Equality
Communications@indianaequality.org
LOCAL ORGANIZATIONS DENOUNCE
IPS’ EXPULSION EFFORTS
INDIANAPOLIS—Several statewide organizations have denounced the bullying atmosphere that has forced an Arsenal Technical High School student to arm himself against bullies.
“All Indiana public schools have a legal and ethical obligation to foster safe learning environments,” said the statement from the organizations: Indiana Equality Action, Stonewall Democrats, Indiana Youth Group and PFLAG (Parents and Friends of lesbians and Gays). “We do not condone weapons in schools. But we have to speak out against ignorance and lack of proper oversight by school administrators, especially when that attitude could cause harm to students.”
The groups referred to the recent case of 17-year-old Dynasty Young, a Tech H.S. student, who was suspended and recommended for expulsion. Young’s mother complained often to school officials about her son’s treatment by school bullies, who targeted Young because he is gay.
Tech HS Principal Larry Yarrell was quoted in a newspaper article recently regarding Young: “If you wear female apparel, then kids are kids and they’re going to say whatever it is that they want to say. Because you want to be different and because you choose to wear female apparel, it may happen.”
Said the Indianapolis-based LGBT groups, “The school corporation’s attitude cannot be condoned.”
“It is not the student’s obligation to change his or her behavior,” the organizations added. “It is the school corporation’s duty to aggressively seek out bullies and properly address those issues.”
The group’s statement continued: “This principal’s unfortunate public remarks give aid and comfort to those who seek to act aggressively against any student who is ‘different.’ That attitude cannot be allowed to continue in IPS or any school corporation. On behalf of all families whose children experience bullying, it’s time to put a halt to slack administrative oversight. Our children need to be safe. Anything less is not acceptable.”
In addition, the groups questioned why a school principal would offer any public comments on a pending student disciplinary matter. “The principal and the Superintendent are in the direct appeal link. They should be publicly silent until the matter is resolved,” said the organizations.
Young attended a full expulsion hearing mid-day May 2. His family should hear the results of that hearing within a week, and if the expulsion is recommended, appeals can go through proper channels until they end at the school board, or a court.
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Organizational Supporters of this News Release: Indiana Equality Action, Indiana Equality, Interfaith Coalition on Nondiscrimination, Indiana Stonewall Democrats, Indiana Transgender Rights Advocacy Alliance, Indianapolis Parents and Friends of Lesbians and Gays, and Indiana Youth Group.
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Spread the Word about IE
Indiana Equality works every day to educate Hoosiers about LGBT civil rights. There are over 160,000 LGBT individuals in Indiana but only a fraction of those subscribe to IE’s e-mail notices, are on our Facebook group, or support Indiana Equality.
Please let your friends and family member know about Indiana Equality. Here’s how…
- E-mail your friends and family to tell them about IE and ask them to sign up for e-mail alerts. Click here to send them a note.
- Send them our Facebook link: http://www.facebook.com/groups/indequality/
- Send them our Twitter link: http://twitter.com/#!/INDequality
- Send them a link to our Current State of Hoosier Equality to learn about the rights that LGBT hoosiers are denied: http://www.indianaequality.org/get-informed/the-current-state-of-hoosier-equality/
Only when we come together can we help educate and inform our LGBT brother, sisters, and supporters about the rights that LGBT Hoosiers are denied in terms of relationship, employment, and housing protections – amongst others.
Research Request from Valparaiso University
Please share widely…
We are a group of researchers from Valparaiso University under the guidance of Dr. David Rowland investigating the various ways in which sex affects one’s quality of life.
We are currently looking for men 18 years of age or older to anonymously participate in a survey which would help us determine how various sexual health topics affect their relationships and perceptions of themselves and their partner or partners. This information is part of a 10 year ongoing line of research and will potentially help us determine better ways to therapeutically treat men.We are trying to get our survey on as many websites as we possibly can to gather the most current and pertinent information.
You can find the survey here:
https://www.surveymonkey.com/s/XMDWZ3J
E-mail us at qolresearchvalpo@gmail.com
Please share widely.
Thank you!
Youth Activism Award – Who Inspires You Indiana Equality?
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Towards a New Pentecost Five Weeks of Action
Action Alert
Towards a New Pentecost Five Weeks of Action
Week One: Not Our Parish!
[Parish Name] Catholic Church in [City, State] respectfully declines participation in anti-gay and 2012 election year political campaigns, including the use of parish facilities and the liturgy for anti-gay and political statements or activity.
[Parish Name] Catholic Church in [City, State] respectfully declines participation in 2012 political campaigns, including the use of parish facilities and the liturgy for political statements or activity.
GOP Crashes the Party with Anti-Social CrowdIn Wisconsin, about 25% of Planned Parenthood’s abortions have been drug-induced. Not anymore. Thanks to some persistent local leaders, the state all but wiped out that option by passing a strict law called Act 216. Because of the risks of a non-surgical abortion (women take the pills at home–without a doctor’s supervision), states like Arizona, Kansas, Nebraska, South Dakota, and now Wisconsin have added some extra precautions to make sure women are as safe as medically possible. In this instance, the Badger State is adding another layer of protection by requiring doctors to meet three times with the mothers: 1. to ensure she isn’t being coerced to abort and to guarantee that she knows about the alternatives to abortion; 2. to dispense the abortion drugs in person; and 3. for a standard follow-up check up. The law took effect on Friday, and it’s already having an impact! Planned Parenthood’s Wisconsin clinics announced this weekend they are officially suspending their chemical abortion options.
For pro-lifers, this was a major accomplishment. But unfortunately for the state, women, and the unborn, not everyone was celebrating. According to some members of the national GOP, Wisconsin’s victory was just another social “distraction.” “The recent flurry of socially conservative legislation, on issues from expanding gun rights to placing new restrictions on abortion comes as Republicans at the national level are eager to refocus attention on economic issues,” the New York Times reports. “Some Republican strategists and officials… fear that the attention these divisive social issues are receiving at the state level could harm the [GOP] in November.”
First of all, these issues are obviously not as divisive at the state level, otherwise there wouldn’t be such a growing consensus to act on them! Secondly, our political process, like the free market, operates on the law of supply and demand. If voters weren’t interested in supporting candidates who promised to make our country secure, economically prosperous and free, as well as socially virtuous, it’s simple: there wouldn’t be a market for them.
What we’re witnessing is the political gulf between the states and Washington, D.C. Unlike Congress, where many members become insolated by the distance and process, state leaders are not only accessible to voters–they listen to them. It’s not like Capitol Hill, where some Republicans get to D.C. and suddenly become tone deaf. Passionate and engaged Americans can still hold their local politicians accountable, because most don’t have the luxury that congressional incumbents do: a financial war chest that makes them untouchable to the average constituents in campaign season.
In my opinion, what hurts Republicans isn’t social conservatives, it’s the GOP’s inability to see beyond Washington to real priorities of Americans. Yet, John Weaver, who worked on the presidential campaigns of Senator John McCain and Jon Huntsman, insists that this pro-family push is “problematic,” “not just for this national election we’re facing, but for the long-term health of the party.” (Maybe that indifference toward social issues is a reason those campaigns weren’t so successful!) Let’s face it. The GOP isn’t in trouble because local leaders are focusing on both the economy and social issues. The GOP is in trouble because Congress can’t seem to focus on either one! And as far as I’m concerned, the Republicans foolish enough to divide the base with comments like these are a bigger liability to the party’s chances than any issue could be.
After 80 Meaningful Years, Colson Is Homeward Bound |
