During the Holiday season, we often stop and reflect and give thanks for all that we have received in our lives. We at Indiana Equality are thankful for our thousands of supporters across the state who give their time, money and resources in the struggle for equality in Indiana and [...]
Want to help, but you dont know how?
Support Equality: Go Shopping!
Indiana Equality, in partnership with GoodSearch.com, makes it easy for you to shop online AND support equality.
GoodShop.com has links to your favorite stores, from Amazon to Williams-Sonoma. By shopping through GoodShop.com, a percentage of virtually every purchase [...]
There’s a bill making its way through Congress that would touch many LGBT people's lives, but which no one seems to be talking about: The Domestic Partnership Benefits and Obligations Act (DPBO), which has been progressing quietly -- and is coming up for a vote.
The DPBO would extend [...]
Most of my under 40 friends get their news from on-line sources, USA Today and CNN. I don’t know if that includes you, but that means that most LGBT citizens focus more on national issues and have relatively no idea how important the state lawmakers are to their lives.
With the [...]
Indy Pride Inc has announced their scholarship recipients for the 2010 year. Among those that have been selected is Indiana Equality’s own Brandon Monson, Communications Chair for IE and IE Action.
Each year, Indy Pride, Inc. provides scholarships to students who have worked to make Indiana a better place for the LGBT community. Monies [...]
Since 1988, World AIDS Day has been recognized as a time to bring individuals and organizations together to remember those who have died from HIV/AIDS, increase awareness of this ongoing pandemic, and celebrate the progress being made in the fight against the disease. World AIDS Day events will involve millions [...]
American Civil Liberties Union of Indiana
ACLU Award to go to Indiana Equality Field Organizer Dino Sierp Recognized for Work on Behalf of LGBT HoosiersThe American Civil Liberties Union of Indiana has announced that Dino Sierp, Indiana Equality Field Organizer is the 2009 recipient of the Chris Gonzales Award for her role [...]
On Thursday, December 10, 2009 at 6pm, friends and supporters will gather to celebrate the accomplishments of the year and further the cause of equality for all Hoosiers.
The second annual fundraising event will take place at the home of Joe Everhart and Ken Ramsay in their historic home located in [...]
From John Clower, Indiana Equality Field Operations
It’s a small step. But a path breaking step for Indiana.
On October 21, 2009, Bloomington City Council voted 7-0 to approve Ordinance 09-18 (Responsible Bidder Ordinance).
The ordinance gives the City more control and better tools for awarding large contracts (worth $150,000 or more) to [...]
Please take a moment today to reflect on those that have given the most so we could have what we do.
Indiana Equality presents
Thursday, December 10, 2009 - 6:00pm
1238 North Park Avenue, Indianapolis
Tickets: $80
Indiana Equality cordially invites you to join with friends and supporters as we celebrate the accomplishments of the year and further the cause of equality for all [...]
The Busy World Is Hushed
by Keith Bunin
Directed by Molly Bellner
NOVEMBER 6, 7, 8, 13, 14, 15
Fri. & Sat. 8 pm--Sun. 6 pm
A moving look at religion, faith,
and the complexities of the human heart.
Hannah (Kathy Pataluch), a minister and Bible scholar, finds her faith at odds with [...]
The Indianapolis Rainbow Chamber of Commerce has elected to its board of directors the following:
Tara Betterman, Fentress Property Management, Inc. (Chairperson)
Anita Sloat, H.J. Spier Co., Inc. (President)
Bob Chenoweth, TipTopics LLC (Secretary, Marketing and Communications [...]
fostering dialogue about sexual orientation and gender identity
PRESENTS
“Let’s Talk”
Parents of Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender (LGBT) People
Share Their Story
“Homophobia Series, 2005” photo display
by Gina Pope-King
Facilitated Panel Discussion by parents, family therapists, school counselors and local social workers.
Audience Question & Answer Discussion follows.
Wednesday, November 4th
6:30pm at Unitarian Universalist [...]
Heads up on an upcoming event in Indianapolis!
An event featuring shared stories and experiences, as well as art by young people from Indiana Youth Group, transform a simple classroom into a wonderfully diverse community of unconditional support, security, and acceptance. Reverend Barbara Child, Unitarian Universalist Church of Indianapolis, will lead [...]
Gender Identity on IU’s Non-Discrimination Policy by Steve Sanders
The GLBTAA fulfilled a longstanding goal this summer when the IU Board of Trustees added "gender identity" to the University's official Statement of Non-Discrimination and the Code of Student Rights and Responsibilities.
It is now prohibited on any IU campus to discriminate' [...]
The University of Indianapolis is holding a Continuing Education workshop on "Understanding and Ethically Treating Gay, Lesbian, and Bisexual Clients" on Nov. 13th, 2009 from 8:30 a.m.-4:00 p.m. There will be a Keynote speaker, Dr. Simon LeVay, and three panelists who are clinicians in the area (Dr. Julia Lash, Chris Falley, and Jean Capler). They [...]
From Indiana University
News Release
Discharged gay U.S. Army Lieutenant to speak at IU about
'Don't Ask, Don't Tell' policy
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Oct. 28, 2009
BLOOMINGTON, Ind. -- U.S. Army 1st Lt. Dan Choi will speak about his personal battle with the Army's "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" policy Monday, Nov. 2, at 7 p.m.' [...]
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 [...]
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.
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' [...]
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 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. [...]
Sigma
Phi Beta Fraternity
P.O. Box 937, Tempe, AZ 85280
CONTACT: Sam Holdren, Director of Communications
(888) 744-2382
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 [...]
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 [...]
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 [...]
Join representatives from Indiana Equality this Sunday in Indianapolis for National Coming Out Day!
[...]Indiana Equality President Kathy Sarris was featured on Goshen News with her article explaining IE's work in local communities. Check it out
Group supports ordinance amendment
In the state of Indiana, a person can still be fired or denied credit, housing, or public accommodations simply for being gay or transgender. Every' [...]
I saw this a little while ago and had forgotten to post something on it. Its an article from the Indy Channel about the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America debating a decision to allow gays and lesbians in committed relationships to serve as clergy.
INDIANAPOLIS -- The turmoil among members of the [...]
"Holiday IN the Old Northside”
Thursday, December 10, 2009 – 6pm
1238 North Park Avenue, Indianapolis
(Home of Joe Everhart & Ken Ramsey)
Make plans to enjoy great food and live entertainment with fellow supporters with all proceeds to [...]
In mid-September, the Ohio house voted 56-39 to pass the Equal Housing and Employment Act. It was a first for LGBT rights legislation in either Ohio chamber. Finally, it seemed that advocates of LGBT rights were being heard and elected officials were stepping up and doing the right thing…Protecting all [...]
Sign Up For Organizing for LGBT Rights
The Unitarian Universalist Fellowship of Elkhart (UUFE) is hosting an 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 [...]
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
DOMAby 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 [...]
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 [...]
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 [...]
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 [...]
This Thursday, September 24th, The Westboro Baptist Church will be protesting a local Indianapolis high school production of The Laramie Project. The 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, the church plans to [...]
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 [...]
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 [...]
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 [...]
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, [...]
This particular policy really annoys me. No, scratch that, it really makes me angry. Men and women choose to enlist in the military for a variety of reasons yet if it is found out that they are gay or lesbians, they’re out. And not just out as in their sexuality [...]
A huge thank you to everyone who made August Equality Weekend a huge success!
The weekend started with the first annual Pride Day at the State Fair. Hundreds of you participated in what was the largest State Fair in Indiana history. The event, sponsored by Indiana Equality, Indy Rainbow Chamber and Indy Pride, took place on [...]
A training program for LGBT living in rural, small town and urban communities;
and allies who support LGBT issues and civil rights
Unitarian Universalist Fellowship of Elkhart
1732 Garden St., Elkhart
October
10, 2009
9:30AM – 3:30PM
PROGRAM:
9:30AM Registration/ Check-In and Continental Breakfast
10:00AM Welcome
Elkhart, IN- The Unitarian Universalist Fellowship of Elkhart (UUFE) along with Indiana Equality (IE) will host a rural organizing training for LGBT civil rights on Saturday, October 10th, 2009. “Organizing for LGBT Rights: Finding the Road in Indiana” aims to empower local citizens to engage in the political process while [...]
Want to make change in your community? Do you want to make a difference in the efforts to achieve equality for all?
Join us at the Get Busy Get Equal workshop for a crash course on building community organizing and campaign skills. This [...]
Indiana Equality is pleased to announce the addition of Trenia Fletcher as another IE contributor! Trenia will be blogging every Thursday so make sure to stay tuned!
About Trenia:
I live in Indy with my husband and two children. I work at an area hospital as a secretary and bereavement counselor for parents who [...]
Tuesday night vote reverses August 19th passage of human rights ordinance amendment
The Goshen City Council has decided against changing the community’s civil rights ordinance to add protection for sexual orientation and gender identity.
The proposal, co-authored by Councilor Jeremy Stutsman, lost on a three-to-four vote Tuesday night. Councilor Harlan “Chic” Lantz, [...]
Want to make change in your community? Do you want to make a difference in the efforts to achieve equality for all?
Join us at the Get Busy Get Equal workshop for a crash course on building community organizing and campaign skills. This [...]
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. [...]
From etruth.com
GOSHEN -- The Goshen City Council expects a big crowd next week for its final decision on whether to expand the civil rights ordinance.
The meeting will happen at 7 p.m. Tuesday in the Goshen High School auditorium, instead of the council chambers -- which were stuffed to overflowing [...]
Compliments of Goshen News.com
All of council should vote for rights amendment
On Tuesday, by virtue of a 4-3 vote, the Goshen City Council approved a controversial first reading of an amendment to its civil rights policy. The alteration would simply add four new words to the document.
Only it’s not that [...]
We don't usually write to you about things going on outside of Indiana but this is too important to keep to ourselves. We just got this urgent request for help from our friend Betsy Smith, the Executive Director of EqualityMaine. They're facing a Prop. 8-style ballot campaign to take away [...]
Want to make change in your community? Do you want to make a difference in the efforts to achieve equality for all?
Join us at the Get Busy Get Equal workshop for a crash course on building community organizing and campaign skills. This participatory workshop will cover some of the basics [...]
Hundreds of people helped turn the State Fair “red” on Thursday for the first annual Pride Day at the Indiana State Fair. Gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender Hoosiers enjoyed a day of smiles, music, animals, amusement rides and, of course, food.
Organized by the Indy Rainbow Chamber of Commerce, Indy Pride, and Indiana Equality, [...]
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 [...]
A native of Fort Wayne, Chris has served most recently as the business manager of the Winston/Terrell Group, governmental affairs, public outreach and community relations consulting firm [...]
Action Would Add Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity as Protected Persons
GOSHEN [August 18, 2009] In a bi-partisan initiative, the Goshen City Council has voted four to three to insure non-discrimination based on sexual orientation or gender identity. This amendment to the city’s civil rights ordinance adds similar protections that are currently provided on the basis [...]
Hon. Jeb Bardon - Hon. John Barnes - Hon. Greg Bowes - Hon. Bill Crawford -Anne-Marie & Marty Dezelan - Scott Keller - Tom John - Hon. Joanne Sanders - Hon. Mary Ann Sullivan - Hon. Ryan Vaughn
Invite You to the
40 Years After Stonewall Celebration
to Benefit Indiana Equality [...]
THE WHITE HOUSE
Office of Media Affairs
________________________________________________________________________
For Immediate
Release
August 17, 2009
Statement by the President on the Smelt v. United States Brief
Today, the Department of Justice has filed a response to a legal challenge to the Defense of Marriage Act, as it traditionally does when acts of Congress are challenged. This brief makes clear, however, that my [...]
From Dino Sierp, IE Field Organizer
Good news! Goshen’s city council members will be voting on the amendment to include LGBT civil rights in their local human rights ordinance on Tuesday, August 18th at 7pm. If the amendment passes unanimously (7-0) it will become the third municipality in the state to have sexual orientation [...]
Rural Organizing for LGBT Civil Rights
A one day training on how to organize your region to fight for LGBT civil rights.
Saturday, October 10, 2009
Unitarian Universalist Church of Elkhart
Elkhart, Indiana
For further info contact Pam atrn_pamela@yahoo.com
In celebrating Pride month, it was apparent that record number of Hoosiers came out to celebrate. We met friends from Fort Wayne, Columbus and Hoosiers who took part in Chicago’s North Halsted Market Days, where we partnered with the folks from Illinois Equality. All over the state, we continued our [...]
Lambda Legal is collecting personal stories of people who have been directly affected by health care discrimination as part of their National Health Care Fairness Campaign. These stories will be used to help educate people about the need for LGBT and HIV rights. Make your voice heard!
If you have experienced [...]
Hon. Jeb Bardon - Hon. John Barnes - Hon. Greg Bowes - Hon. Bill Crawford -Anne-Marie & Marty Dezelan - Scott Keller - Tom John - Hon. Joanne Sanders - Hon. Mary Ann Sullivan - Hon. Ryan Vaughn
Invite You to the
40 Years After Stonewall Celebration
to Benefit Indiana [...]
Position available in
Indianapolis, IN: Part-time Youth Outreach Assistant
Indiana Youth Group (IYG) serves lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and questioning (LGBTQ) youth ages 12 – 21. The Youth Outreach Assistant is a new position and will provide administrative support for all IYG programs and services, including data entry, setting up appointments, mass mailings to maintain [...]
Join Indiana Equality for the first Pride Day at the Indiana State Fair Thursday, August 20th.
Pride Day at the Indiana State Fair is organized by the Indy Rainbow Chamber of Commerce, Indy Pride, and Indiana Equality . Make sure to wear red to [...]
There is nothing more quintessentially Hoosier than covered bridges, tenderloins and corn on the cob, or a gorgeous sunset along the Wabash – unless it's the Indiana State Fair. This year the good fathers of the State Fair Board have extended the annual event from 12 to 17 days – [...]
We have a winner! Actually two.
Laura Ingersoll of Indianapolis is the winner of our Olivia Cruise! She and a guest will enjoy a Caribbean Halloween Cruise to Key West, Cozumel, Belize and Guatemala.
Terrill Cosgray of Bloomington is the winner of our RSVP Vacations Cruise. He and a guest will enjoy [...]
Saturday August 8th is almost here and you don’t want to miss this years Indiana Black Pride festival in the park!!
30th St. and N. Rural St. Noon until 7!!!
Entertainment, Vendors, Food, and Fun!
Bring your chairs and your folks and meet us in the park!!!!
Volunteer opportunities are still available……………….
Pride Planning [...]
August Equality Weekend
Presented by Indiana Equality Action
Thu, 8/20 Pride Day at the Indiana State Fair
All Day Join Indy Pride, the Indy Rainbow Chamber of Commerce, and Indiana Equality at the Indiana State Fair. Wear red and show your Hoosier Pride!
I was looking through my feedburner at old blog posts and stumbled upon this piece by Adam Nagourney published in the New York Times.
Frankly I couldnt agree more with his arguments. It seems that all across the board, from municipalities to the federal government, contemporary politics lags far behind American [...]
A great post covering the Hate Crimes Bill from HRC's blog Back Story
Today the U.S. Senate adopted four amendments to the Matthew Shepard Hate Crimes Prevention Act — three of which were strongly opposed by the Human Rights Campaign. Once the Senate votes on the final Defense Department authorization' [...]
Here's a great post from the South Bend Equality blog. Check out the full post here!
Senate Passes Hate Crimes Amendment Lacking Free Speech And Association Protections
ACLU Calls For Adoption Of House Provision, Instead
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
July 17, 2009
CONTACT: Linda Paris, (202) 675-2312; media@dcaclu.org
WASHINGTON – The Senate late Thursday passed an amendment as part of the Department of Defense Authorization bill that would give the federal government [...]
As of late Thursday, July 16th, the US Senate invoked cloture against the threatened filibuster of the Matthew Shepard Act (S. 909) as amended into the FY2010 Department of Defense Authorization bill on a vote of 63 to 28.
Senator Bayh had been a co-sponsor of the bill, but [...]
At the risk of being charged with hometown boosterism, I'd like to congratulate and praise the founders and executive directors of Pride Lafayette for their dedication to the Greater Lafayette GLBT community and the opening of the new community center this past week.
This is now the only full-service GLBT [...]
The full Senate is scheduled to vote -- this week -- on the Matthew Shepard Hate Crimes Prevention Act, so Indiana's Senators need to hear from you now! Please send an email and, if you have a couple extra minutes, please call each of your Senators, too.
Every hour of every [...]
Interested in politics?
Passionate about LGBT issues?
Interested in building a relationship with your legislator?
Become a Key Advocate for Equality
Indiana Equality Action's Key Advocates program seeks to create a positive working relationship with legislators in the Indiana General Assembly by means of constituent-lobbyists, called Key Advocates. The Key Advocates' [...]
Little else matters if you cannot feel safe in your everyday life. Every day, lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender people are the victims of harassment and violence, particularly at school and the workplace. Sometimes anti-LGBT bias manifests itself as bias-motivated harassment and violence, which harms not only individuals, but also [...]
They say that travel is broadening, and besides an expanding waistline, I will agree with that sentiment wholeheartedly. I just finished nearly a month on the road in various long and short trips that have taken me from Germany (with students) to Columbus, IN. I spent many days in Indianapolis [...]
