What's with LGBT Legal Protection in Indiana?
Andrew Raker, member of the GLAD Alliance Council, shares an update on the status of LGBT legal protections in Indiana.
At the 1977 General Assembly, the Disciples of Christ first called for its members to support legislation to end the denial of civil rights on the basis of sexual orientation. Our next General Assembly will mark the fortieth anniversary of this resolution, but the issue of civil rights for LGBT people will remain on the minds of many Disciples because it will be held in Indianapolis, IN.
Last spring, Indiana passed a Religious Freedom Restoration Act, which had language so broad that it was interpreted, both by its supporters and opponents, to allow for discimination against LGBT people by businesses. The Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) joined with other Hoosiers to speak out against this law, including a General Board decision move the 2017 General Assembly to another location. After the law was amended to state that it could not be used to discriminate, and a pledge was made that a civil rights law inclusive of sexual orientation and gender identity would be considered in the 2016 legislative session, the General Assembly decided again to hold the 2017 Assembly in Indianapolis.
Disciples in the congregational, regional, and general expressions of the church lobbied Indiana elected officials to ensure that this issue would be addressed this year. Members of our congregations rallied at the Statehouse. Disciples, ranging from Sharon Watkins to congregational minsters, were well represented in a public statement from 141 faith leaders in the state calling for these protections. Rick Spleth, the Indiana Regional Minister joined with regional leaders from our ecumenical partners in another letter and represented them before a Senate committee hearing on January 27th, although he did not have time to speak because of the overwhelming support for such legislation from throughout the state.
Unfortunately, legislation that would expand Indiana’s civil rights laws to include gender identity and sexual orientation failed this year.
Fortunately, legislation that would prevent cities and counties from enacting their own ordinances failed, and a bathroom bill that would severely limit the rights of transgender individuals also failed. Indianapolis’ local ordinances protecting gender identity and sexual orientation still stand; and the tourism industry, which has been hard-hit, knows the importance of welcoming all.
This issue is bound to play a prominent role in the elections in the state this fall, and in next year’s legislative session. Disciples in Indiana will continue to stand up and demand such protections. As Rick Spleth noted in the remarks prepared for the Senate, this commitment is at the core of who we are as Hoosiers and as Disciples:
As we celebrate our bicentennial year as a state we have opportunity to affirm once again the protection for religious freedom and conscience that is embedded and unequivocally assured in our state constitution and bill of rights. All of us enjoy the opportunity to express our faith in our hearts, our homes, and our places of worship without fear of governmental intervention. Throughout the history of our state we have demonstrated capacity to live out that essential freedom even as the blend of religious groups and the diversity of our population in Indiana have changed over time. Strengthening the civil rights provisions of our state does not weaken that in any way. Rather it affirms a basic religious tenet, held in common among our various traditions, in the intrinsic worth and value of each individual. We believe that doing this is consistent with the value we share to continually create a hospitable and welcoming community for all. It is also consistent with our common Christian call and commitment to care for and serve our neighbor following the example of Christ.
Further Reading:
Letter from 141 faith leaders.
Letter from regional leaders (including Rick Spleth)
Letter from Sharon Watkins, Rick Spleth on Indiana’s LGBT legislation