Indiana Equality

Special Sneak Peak Performance at The Phoenix Theatre

2009-12-23T11:00:00-05:00

Indiana Equality is proud to partner with The Phoenix Theatre to bring you a special “sneak peak” at their next show, The Housewives of Mannheim!

This special dress rehearsal performance will take place, Wednesday, January 13, 2010 at7:30pm at The Phoenix Theatre (749 N. Park Avenue, Indianapolis). Tickets to the show are $25 with all proceeds benefiting Indiana Equality.

Enjoy hors’ devours along with a beer and wine cash bar before the show and during intermission in the newly renovated Frank & Katrina Basile Theatre (formerly known as The Underground.)

To reserve your tickets, please click here.

(Note: Tickets for this special engagement are only available through Indiana Equality. The Phoenix Theatre box office will not accept reservations for this performance.)

About The Housewives of Mannheim by Alan Brody

It’s spring 1944 in May Black’s middle-class Jewish neighborhood in Brooklyn, where she dishes the dirt with her two long-time friends. Wisecracking and streetwise Billie Friedhoff buys and sells on the black market, while Alice Cohen is a judgmental, self-appointed, moralist busybody. Into their lives comes Sophie. Worldly and sophisticated, she helps each woman discover something about themselves that their husbands never could. Out of necessity, the women flourish and are able to contemplate the freedoms that would only truly be available to generations of women yet to come.

Sheila Kennedy, my Shero

2009-12-22T14:14:23-05:00

I wanted to pass this post along. It comes from the absolutely wonderful Sheila Kennedy. Take a look at her blog!

I’m at that time of life when the new years come around a lot more frequently. (As my husband says, “Life is like a roll of toilet paper—the closer you get to the end, the faster it turns.”) But no matter how often we ring out the old and ring in the new, it’s a time for reflections and resolutions, both communal and personal.

For those engaged in the fight for GLBT equality, the year that just ended brought mixed feelings and results. Maine and New York were bitter disappointments. On the other hand, progress more and more seems inevitable, inexorable. Little by little, as my generation “departs” (gentle term for “dies off”), younger people with gay friends and fewer prejudices take our place.

Great News with Another IE HRO Project Partner!

2009-12-20T10:00:00-05:00

The Indiana ACLU has selected Gilbert Holmes as their new Executive Director.

To help secure statewide civil rights protections for LGBT Hoosiers, the project focuses on expanding the number of Indiana communities providing LGBT protections via a local human rights ordinance. Project activities will include educational and outreach programs, an enhanced Speakers Bureau, earned media, polling, and community mobilization.

Project collaborators include Midwest Office of Lambda Legal (Lambda Legal), American Civil Liberties Union of Indiana (ACLU-IN), American Federation of State, County, and Municipal Employees Council 62 (AFSCME), Indiana AFL-CIO (AFL-CIO), state and local LGBT groups, and several other allied organizations.

Indiana Equality has received a challenge grant of $45,000 for the first year, but the total project costs per year are almost $90,000, and we need your help to ensure that it is fully funded. Please consider making your tax-deductible donation today to make sure the project is successful.

Reviewing for the Future

2009-12-19T14:21:27-05:00

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 40^th 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!

Special Sneak Peak Performance at The Phoenix Theatre

2009-12-19T11:00:00-05:00

Indiana Equality is proud to partner with The Phoenix Theatre to bring you a special “sneak peak” at their next show, The Housewives of Mannheim!

This special dress rehearsal performance will take place, Wednesday, January 13, 2010 at 7:30pm at The Phoenix Theatre (749 N. Park Avenue, Indianapolis). Tickets to the show are $25 with all proceeds benefiting Indiana Equality.

Enjoy hors’ devours along with a beer and wine cash bar before the show and during intermission in the newly renovated Frank & Katrina Basile Theatre (formerly known as The Underground.)

To reserve your tickets, please click here.

(Note: Tickets for this special engagement are only available through Indiana Equality. The Phoenix Theatre box office will not accept reservations for this performance.)

About The Housewives of Mannheim by Alan Brody

Indiana Equality featured in the IndyStar

2009-12-18T15:31:54-05:00

Indiana Equality's annual Holiday IN the Northside has been featured on the Indy Star's website.

Check it out here!

IE HRO Partner to be Indiana AFL-CIO President

2009-12-18T09:00:00-05:00

Hat tip to the Indianapolis Times for first writing about the story.

The AFL-CIO Indiana is one of Indiana Equality’s project partners for the HRO Project. Nancy’s work in the AFL-CIO Indiana has been a major contribution to the HRO project due to her strong labor relationships throughout the state. With her help, Indiana Equality has been able to gain labor support which in turn has very much strengthened our coalitions in the targeted towns we are seeking to include LGBT protections. Indiana Equality is greatly indebted to her continued support and solidarity.

Congratulations Nancy!

Thanks for a Great Holiday IN the Northside!

2009-12-17T10:00:00-05:00

From all of us at Indiana Equality we’d like to thank all of those that came to IE’s annual Holiday IN the Northside. This year’s event had nearly 300 attendees! Folks from all over the state, elected officials, Republicans, Democrats, Libertarians, old and young all gathered at the home of Joe Everhart and Ken Ramsay to celebrate the holidays and IE.

Photos have also been made available by Mark Lee of Great Exposures. Photos can be seen here and 50% of the proceeds from the photo sales will be graciously donated to Indiana Equality from Great Exposures. The password to view the photos is “Holiday” (the password IS case-sensitive).

The proceeds from this event go largely to Indiana Equality Human Rights Ordinance Project which seeks to help local communities pass LGBT-inclusive Human Rights Ordinances and educate the public and elected officials on the need for statewide civil rights protections has been announced by Indiana’s statewide advocacy group for lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender equality. Please help us in this project.

Indiana Equality is only able to do our HRO Project from the generous donations of Hoosiers all over the state. IE has received a challenge grant of $45,000 for the first year of the project, but the total project costs per year are almost $90,000, and we need your help to ensure that it is fully funded. Please take a moment and provide a tax deductible donation. No matter what the size of your donation, every bit helps to ensure civil rights protections for you and your fellow Hoosiers.

We’d also like to thank all of the businesses that contributed to the event with in kind donations. Thanks goes out to:

Aesop's Tables
Alan's Catering
Best Rentals
Corner Wine Bar
Hai Sizzling Wok
Hoaglin's Fine Catering
Indiana Beverage Alliance
Jim Purucker
Joan Morris
Lougmiller's Pub
Magianno's
Mark Lee Photography
Monarch Beverage
Printing Partners
Rathskeller Restaurant
Scholar's Inn
Suzie Snep
The Word
Zink Distributing

The New Year's Equality Agenda

2009-12-13T22:35:28-05:00

Indiana Equality is a proud member of the Equality Federation

EQUALITY FEDERATION BOARD SETS EQUALITY AGENDA

New Project Launched to Address Intersections of Sexual Orientation, Race, and Gender Identity

San Francisco- Equality Federation board members from states across the country returned home from San Francisco yesterday after a two-day retreat intended to set the organization’s agenda for the next year. The Federation plays a critical role in the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender equal rights movement by delivering resources to the organizations and leaders who organize, educate, and lobby for LGBT people in the communities where they live.

This year, the Board committed itself to launching a multi-state dialogue about the role of our LGBT advocacy organizations in working on issues surrounding race, gender identity, and poverty. “I am very excited by the commitment of Equality Federation board members to a project working on racial, transgender and economic justice,” said Federation board member and Basic Rights Oregon executive director Jeana Frazzini. “We are already doing this kind of work at Basic Rights Oregon and I look forward to sharing what we have learned and engaging with other movement leaders committed to dismantling racism.”

“I am especially pleased by the Board’s desire to better understand the issues faced by transgender people, who overall experience some of the harshest discrimination in our communities,” said Gunner Scott, executive director of Massachusetts Transgender Political Coalition. “Transgender people face extremely high rates of poverty and transgender people of color are hit especially hard by discrimination.”

Over the next year, Equality Federation will take specific steps to address issues of racial, transgender, and economic justice by training its board, exploring partnerships and funding to support state justice training and projects, and actively working through committees and membership meetings to assess strategies through this justice framework.

During the meeting, Board members also considered improvements to technology services for members, reaffirmed its inclusive membership criteria for state advocacy groups, and discussed the leadership role of state-based organizations in developing the national equality agenda.

“Equality Federation is not simply another national organization,” said Toni Broaddus, Federation Executive Director. “Equality Federation is an alliance of fearless and strategic leaders who care not only about achieving equality, but also about building an inclusive movement from the ground up.”

Members of the Board of Directors include: Ian Palmquist, Equality North Carolina (Federation Board Chair); Paul Scott, Equality Texas (Equality Federation Institute Board Chair); Ross Levi, Empire State Pride Agenda (Secretary); A.J. Bockelman, PROMO (Treasurer); Mo Baxley, New Hampshire Freedom to Marry; Jody Cofer, Kentucky Fairness Alliance; Jeana Frazzini, Basic Rights Oregon; Mark St. John, Indiana Equality; Gunner Scott, Massachusetts Transgender Political Coalition; David Toth, Equality Maryland; Rhonda White, Tennessee Equality Project; Howard Bayless, Alabama; Alicia Skillman, Triangle Foundation and Julie Brueggemann, Missouri.

Equality Federation works to achieve equality for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people in every state and territory by building strong and sustainable statewide organizations in a state based movement. For more information, visit our website at www.equalityfederation.org.

Still Time!!

2009-12-10T12:03:53-05:00

Tonight is the Night You've all Been Waiting For!

Holiday IN the OldNorthside

Thursday, December 10, 2009 - 6:00pm

1238 North Park Avenue, Indianapolis

This is a reminder that tomorrow is IE's annual Holiday IN the Old Northside.

Haven't purchased your tickets yet? Tickets are still available!

Enjoy delectable soups, breads and desserts from renowned restaurants and chefs from across Central Indiana amid a truly historic and festive setting. Entertainment provided throughout the evening by Deb Mullins. A silent auction with many unique items will also be featured along with a cash bar. Ticket price includes one complimentary drink.

Please RSVP online or call 888-567-0750

Questions? Contact Indiana Equality at ieinfo@indianaequality.org

About the Venue

The 1873 Italianate house was known for decades as the home of the Saenger Chor, 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.

Parking

Parking is available along the street on Park Avenue and 13th Street. Additional parking is located one block south in the lot across from the historic Morris-Butler Home on 12th Street.

Indiana Equality

The mission of Indiana Equality (IE) is to end discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity in Indiana. IE seeks such equality by facilitating and coordinating the efforts of the lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and allied communities. IE focuses its efforts through a number of activities and programs including issues engagement, community mobilization, public outreach and research. IE is a 501(c)(3) organization, contributions are tax-deductible to the extent allowed by law. For more information, see our website at www.indianaequality.org