News & Commentary

A year after the Supreme Court issued a landmark ruling prohibiting discrimination in the workplace on the basis of sexual orientation or gender identity, LGBTQ+ Hoosiers finally feel a semblance of legal protection. But the fight for full equality is still far from over.

I spent most of my life wanting to be invisible, afraid to say who I am, afraid of the consequences of being me. At IU’s recent LGBTQ+ Health Conference I heard the inimitable Kate Bornstein say that for the first twenty or so years of her life, she had created herself, in her mind, as a gender girl. When she said that, and I thought, “Yeah…I know that…just for a lot longer than the first twenty or so years….” Living fully has brought me to a place I would have never expected – I have the opportunity

The civil rights of transgender people are on the ballot nationally and here in Indiana this November. That’s why it’s so important that trans people exercise their right to vote, despite the fact that intimidation in their communities and confusion about voter ID rules can decrease turnout among this vulnerable group.  

It is Pride Month and I’m watching the white LGBTQ community respond to the pain and anguish of our black LGBTQ siblings in a time when we are finally being forced to confront the reality of anti-black police brutality. This weekend LGBTQ activists from NYC to LA are transforming their annual summer Pride festivals as a moment to protest in solidarity with Black Lives Matter.  

The first Transgender Day of Remembrance (TDOR) I attended in Indy was a polite, sedate affair. It was hosted by a big church downtown and just so happened to have zero trans people involved. A preacher said some really kind things about us and about our lost friends and family members. Trans people sat quietly in disconnected little groups scattered among the pews and received these platitudes with reserved grace.  

The ACLU of Indiana is urging the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) not to roll back health care protections for transgender people.

I’m proud to lead the ACLU of Indiana LGBTQ Rights Project, where we fight for transgender people in the Indiana statehouse, in the courts and in our communities. We raise up transgender leaders and support their work all over the state. So far, we’ve trained nearly 40 advocates through our Indiana Trans Justice Project, and they are hard at work educating their communities and their lawmakers.

In Response to Speaker Brian Bosma’s Comments About Citizens Outrage Against Attempts to Heighten Requirements for Trans and Non-Binary Hoosiers to Obtain an ID

A settlement was reached this month in which East Allen County Schools has agreed to allow Leo Pride Alliance to change its name to Leo GSA (Gay Straight Alliance), and to provide the organization with all meeting, communication and fundraising opportunities provided to other groups.