Stonewall Democrats celebrate continued support from Indiana’s elected LGBTQ allies, Congressmen André Carson and Frank Mrvan
As expected, Indiana Republican Party continues long-standing opposition toward providing equity for 272,000 LGBTQ Hoosiers
Public Religion Research Institute (PRRI) finds 65-percent of Hoosiers support nondiscrimination protections (similar to the Equality Act) for LGBTQ people
INDIANAPOLIS – The Indiana Democratic Party, the organization that advocates for the future of Indiana and its families, and Indiana Stonewall Democrats today celebrated Indiana Congressmen André Carson and Frank Mrvan and the entire U.S. House of Representatives for passing the Equality Act, which would usher in full equity for Indiana’s 272,000 LGBTQ Hoosiers. If passed by the U.S. Senate and signed into law by President Joe Biden, the Equality Act would add LGBTQ Americans to the nation’s existing civil rights laws. Further, it would begin to reverse the damage Mike Pence’s Religious Freedom Restoration Act (RFRA) brought Indiana in 2015.
About 65-percent of Hoosiers support nondiscrimination protections — similar to the Equality Act — for the LGBTQ community, according to the Public Religion Research Institute.
As many Hoosiers remember, Mike Pence’s RFRA ushered in a $250 million economic panic for the state and forever destroyed Indiana’s “Hoosier Hospitality” reputation. Every single Indiana Republican representing the state’s congressional delegation voted against the Equality Act, an expected move. The Equality Act would effectively nullify future anti-LGBTQ efforts by the Indiana Republican Party.
“LGBTQ Hoosiers have come a long way from the days when Mike Pence and the Indiana Republican Party would consistently attack our futures at the statehouse while putting a target on our backs in public life. Thankfully though, Hoosiers rallied behind us during those dark days and supported our simple request to be treated like everyone else,” said Drew Anderson, spokesman for the Indiana Democratic Party. “The Equality Act won’t rid us from homophobia or transphobia, but it’ll usher in a new era of acceptance many of us only dreamed about when we were kids living in the closet – including me. The U.S. Senate must pass the Equality Act.”
“Indiana Stonewall Democrats believed for decades that the more we shared our stories and bravely stepped forward to fight back against anti-LGBTQ discrimination, the greater the chance a majority of Hoosiers would embrace us and call for an end to un-American measures like RFRA. Luckily, we were right and we’re now reaching a watershed moment for LGBTQ people,” said Rick Sutton, President of Indiana Stonewall Democrats. “Allies like Congressmen André Carson and Frank Mrvan made this moment possible, and we thank them for their never ending support for the LGBTQ community. Stonewall Democrats will continue to advocate for total acceptance, like ending so-called ‘conversion therapy’, across Indiana, and we ask Hoosiers to join us in this effort.”
Indiana Stonewall Democrats have been hard at work with its new campaign to end so-called “conversion therapy” across the state. “Conversion therapy” is a debunked practice that does nothing but bring long-term health problems for LGBTQ Hoosiers, particularly LGBTQ youth. State Senator JD Ford and State Representative Sue Errington have introduced bills at the Indiana General Assembly which would protect our children from this harmful practice. The Indianapolis City-County Council also passed a special resolution condemning “conversion therapy” in the City, with the vote earning support from Indianapolis Republicans.
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