Absence of Hate Crime Laws put Hoosiers at Risk

by: kcflood

Sun May 25, 2008 at 22:05:54 PM EDT

The absence of such laws put Hoosiers at risk. Nearly a year ago, Aaron Hall was murdered in rural Indiana because someone believed he was gay. In what some believe to be comparable to Matthew Shepard, it was one of the most gruesome murders based on sexual orientation. Although Aaron Hall was not gay, his attackers believed his was and that they were doing the world justice by disposing of someone who had less worth than their own.

Hate Crime legislation has been suggested in Indiana but nothing has made a serious advance toward making a real difference. Every time a bill is proposed, the Christian Right spreads lies that put Hoosiers into a panic for what could "hurt" the heterosexual majority. Instead of helping protect minorities the Right feel as if their way of life will be threatened by properly prosecuting those who break the law.  

I bring this up because nearly two weeks ago I, along with a handful of others, was attacked in Muncie, Indiana based on sexual orientation. Within walking distance from Ball State University, two college-aged students attacked two students and I in what can only describe as a hate crime.  

New Castle High School Under Lockdown Over Gay Protest

by: BillyZoom

Wed Apr 18, 2007 at 23:43:12 PM EDT

(New Castle, Indiana) A high school in New Castle, east of Indianapolis, was placed in lockdown Wednesday following threats of violence tied to National Day of Silence - the annual day where students remain silent to protest homophobia.

New Castle High School administrators evacuated the building and moved students to a fieldhouse while police searched the premises.

The school's superintendent said that officials became concerned about rumors there would be violence at the school.

The high school allowed LGBT students and their allies to remain silent during the day, but some students reportedly were opposed to the observance and  when rumors of violence began to circulate the lockdown order was put in place.

I still haven't figured out what the "homosexual agenda" might be. It might have something to do with the "gay lifestyle" which, for me, includes going to work, studying for my Master's degree, paying bills, feeding the dogs, and finding time somewhere to maybe have dinner with my partner.

Of course, the Christianists who post on the Indy Star's
message board are going nuts over this one.

Let's read some quotes from our fundie friends:

Eli Lilly Opposes Same-Sex Marriage Ban - Fundies Go Nuts

by: BillyZoom

Wed Mar 28, 2007 at 23:04:47 PM EDT

Currently, the state is debating a constitutional ammendment that would not only ban gay marriage, but disallow courts from ruling in favor of civil unions.

The proposed ammendment reads like this:

(a) Marriage in Indiana consists only of the union of one man and one woman.

(b) This Constitution or any other Indiana law may not be construed to require that marital status or the legal incidents of marriage be conferred upon unmarried couples or groups.

Indiana Trusts in God

by: BillyZoom

Wed Mar 21, 2007 at 23:26:42 PM EDT

For the last few months or so, I've been noticing something new on the license plates of Hoosier motorists.

The new plates are red, white, blue, much like American flags. On the bottom of those tags, you can read the words "In God We Trust."

I've been unsettled by those new license plates for a number of weeks. Most of me feels as if those plates are passive-agressive attacks on Democrats and gays, mostly.

Today, I was relieved to read that I am not the only one who feels the way I do.

Coming together

by: bilerico

Wed Feb 21, 2007 at 01:09:30 AM EST

A little background...

I truly and deeply believe that the only way we're going to win the fight for our rights is with the grassroots.  We need the people.  We won't win this with only LGBT people but we definitely can't win this without them either.  I think we need to all be talking to not only each other, but our allies, neighbors, friends, business associates, and - hell - even the postal carrier or fast food workers. 

I think that aspect of our movement hasn't been as fleshed out as fully as it could be.  I remember the time we were working on the human rights ordinance and 22 organizations came together to help pass the ordinance.  But now with SJR-7 sailing through the state senate and headed to the house, the hate crimes bill waiting on second reading, and the civil rights bill seemingly not gaining traction, most of the organizations and individuals that worked so hard together weren't maintaining that same level of contact and cooperation.  That is a travesty.  It's time to get off our asses and get to work.  This is crunch time. 

And so early last week I sent out an e-mail (in my capacity as the IAN president) to the folks who were involved in the HRO and some other individuals I knew would be interested or helpful in our current situation.  Boulevard Place Cafe opened their door and kitchen to us (even though they are usually closed on Sunday nights) and we filled the room.  About 30-40 people came to talk about what we - as a community - could do to help fight SJR-7 and support the hate crimes bill. 

A couple local bloggers, critics of the local gay organizations, and concerned LGBT and allied Hoosiers attended as well as representatives from Jesus MCC, Indiana Equality, INTRAA, HRC, Stonewall Democrats, Log Cabin Republicans, PFLAG and Indiana Action Network.  Indianapolis City-County Council members Jackie Nytes (D) and Scott Keller (R) attended and asked the community to pull together again for this difficult time - and they both stayed to help work on the problems we're facing.

And then, we talked.  And we listened.  We explained what our groups have been doing and we asked how we could support the other groups.  We talked about what areas were currently lacking, how we could help build support for the cause, and, most importantly, we agreed that for right now we have to put our differences behind us and concentrate on the end goal.  There was, literally, no agenda - just a community conversation.

I have a family to protect.  They are the most important part of this to me.  SJR-7 will affect us directly.  I will do what I must to defend my family.  I will fight with every breathe in my body against this horrible amendment and the delegitimization of my child and my love.  I will not be swayed by the bullshit arguments and "pissing on trees" that has happened so many other times in Indiana's past history of LGBT organizing.  And so I moderated the meeting to bring back to the table as many folks as I could grab in less than a week.

And now I want you.  I want your friends.  I want the groups you belong to - whether LGBT or not.  I want your neighbors and employers and that cousin you usually don't talk to anymore.  And since the folks who attended Sunday's summit agreed to meet again in a couple weeks to talk some more and come up with more  concrete action items we could all participate in, I think that this summit will be the most important one.  It's where the rubber meets the road.  And I want all of you there.  We need this.

Please forward this post/e-mail around the internet.  Let's get folks out and talking to each other.  It's time to mobilize. 

Next meeting:

March 4, 2007
6:00 pm
Boulevard Place Cafe (42nd and Boulevard Place - near Butler University)

Let's get to work.  We can do this - together.

(cross-posted to bilerico.com)