Tag Archives: Indiana

White Queer Black Lives Matter Protester Disrupts Black Leaders Endorsement of Pete Buttigieg - VIDEO

White Queer Black Lives Matter Protester Disrupts Black Leaders Endorsement of Pete Buttigieg – VIDEO

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A meeting of Black Leaders in Indiana to showcase black support and endorsements for Pete Buttigieg took a trip on the crazy-train Wednesday night when a white, queer, Black Lives Matter protester rushed the stage to hi-jack the event and was nearly clobbered by a cane-wielding elderly lady.

Caught on camera by local network WSBT 22, the protester charging toward the front of the room where South Bend Councilwoman Sharon McBride was speaking.

“Who chose these people as black leaders?” the man yelled out — as a person in the audience stood up, positioned a cane over their head and took aim at the belligerent event crasher.

McBride and others managed to thwart the cane attack.

The protester then wrestled the microphone away from McBride, shouting into it, “Who organized this? We have a police crisis in this town. Why are we talking about Pete Buttigieg? What kind of nonsense is this?”

Less than a dozen other Black Lives Matter protesters stood silently with signs in the back of the room and did not get involved.

Buttigieg who himself wasn’t present at the event, but his campaign did help organize it.

Oh Thursday the 2020 Presidential nominee contender said of the ruckus.

“It shows kind of where politics has come to, especially for somebody to interrupt an African American woman who was speaking about her truth and in her experience,” the 2020 hopeful told NBC.

“But this is the climate that we’re in and we need to continue making sure that everyone is empowered to speak their truth, their experience, and in particular, when it comes to South Bend’s story,” he added.

Too bad the elderly black lady with the cane missed.

Indiana School Board Member Caught On Video Saying 'CRY ME A RIVER' Over LGBT Suicides

Indiana School Board Member Caught On Video Saying ‘CRY ME A RIVER’ Over LGBT Suicides

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Members of the LGBT group the Tri-State Alliance (TSA) of Southeastern Illinois, southwestern Indiana and western Kentucky. went to a to speak with the Evansville-Vandeburgh County School Corporation school board to talk about the unmet needs of LGB and transgender students at a school in their district.

Six of the 10 activists in the group signed up to speak at the meeting, but only one was allowed as the others were allegedly denied by board president Karen Ragland. Five more were eventually allowed to speak only after vocal protests were launched by the TSA.  

After the meeting, a board member identified as Ann Ennis, approached the protesters to confront them.

In the video footage posted on the TSA’s Facebook page, one of the activists—identified as TSA President Wally Paynter can be heard calling Ennis, “so transphobic. When you met with us, you were so transphobic.”

At that point Ennis backs away from the group saying “cry me a river,” while making a sweeping gesture with her arms and hands that appears to be a violin-playing motion.

“Cry me a river?” Paynter asks.

Another person can then be heard saying, “oh, cry us a river about the kids who have died?”

Paynter, then says, “kids commit suicide, you don’t care.”

The second activist added, “you’re a… shitty person” before the video cut off.

According to a study published in 2017 by the Indiana State Department of Health, the third-highest cause of death among 10- to 14-year-old Indiana citizens is suicide. Among 15- to 24-year-olds, it is the second-highest cause.

You can contact Ann Ennis and School President Karen Ragland by calling or emailing the information below.

This horrendous and sick behavior cannot go unpunished.

Email Mrs. Ragland
812-471-7807

Email Mrs. Ennis
812-483-5671

Judge Rules Indiana Hate Groups Cannot Challenge LGBT Rights Laws

Judge Rules Indiana Hate Groups Cannot Challenge LGBT Rights Laws

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In 2015 Mike Pence, signed a “religious freedom” bill into law in Indiana that caused a  national uproar because it could be used to discriminate against gays and lesbians. Days later, legislators made revisions blocking its use as a legal defense for refusing to provide services, goods, facilities or accommodations on the basis of race, religion, gender, military service or sexual orientation. Pence fearing boycotts of the state then signed those revisions into law.

Various Indiana anti-lgbt hate groups including the The Indiana Family Institute, Indiana Family Action and the American Family Association of Indiana then filed a lawsuit against the newly revised law claiming that the changes threatened to “substantially burden” a person’s ability to follow his or her religious beliefs. (Their definition of “person” includes religious institutions, businesses and associations) And would also hinder their ability to speak out against same-sex marriages and would expose them to claims of discrimination in hiring.

The lawsuit also challenged local civil rights ordinances that include protections based on sexual orientation and gender identity in Indianapolis, Carmel, Bloomington and Columbus, which is Pence’s hometown.

On Wednesday Hamilton County Judge Michael Casati canceled the trial finding that the “conservative groups” failed to prove they were harmed by the changes or by the civil rights ordinances. Casatit did not elaborate on how he reached the decision.

At the time of this posting 21 Indiana cities or counties — representing about 38% of the state’s population — now have local LGBT protection ordinances.

Trump's Department of Justice Department Backs Catholic Church's Firing of Gay Teacher

Trump’s Department of Justice Department Backs Catholic Church’s Firing of Gay Teacher

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The Trump Administration’s U.S. Justice Department is supporting Catholic Church leaders in Indianapolis who are being sued over the firing of a teacher in a same-sex marriage.

The government filed a statement Friday in Marion County court stating that the First Amendment protects the free exercise of religion and gives faith-based schools the right to associate with some people and not others.

“If the First Amendment’s Religion Clauses stand for anything, it is that secular courts cannot entangle themselves in questions of religious law,” United States Attorney Josh Minkler said.

The lawsuit was filed by Joshua Payne-Elliott who says that the Archdiocese of Indianapolis illegally interfered in his contract with Cathedral High School where he had worked for 13 years. 

In an interesting twist in this case Payne-Elliott’s spouse, Layton Payne-Elliott, teaches at the Brebeuf Jesuit Preparatory School in Indianapolis. Brebeuf refused to fire Layton. The archdiocese said it no longer recognizes Brebeuf as a Catholic institution, a decision that has been suspended during the school’s appeal.

Indianapolis Archbishop Charles C. Thompson has maintained that the church is not targeting anyone.

Rather, Thompson said, the archdiocese has a right to set whatever rules it wants for its schools and employees, like that they must live according to Catholic church doctrine. The archdiocese began requiring a morality clause in teacher, administrator and counselor contracts at some of its schools four years ago, and at all Catholic schools two years ago.

It was not clear how binding the DOJ’s statement is, or what impact it will have on Payne-Elliott’s lawsuit.

Trump's Department of Justice Department Backs Catholic Church's Firing of Gay Teacher

Indiana Catholic School Kicked Out Of Archdiocese After Refusing To Fire Gay Teacher

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A Roman Catholic archdiocese has severed ties with a Catholic Prep school in Indiana after it refused to fire a gay teacher for getting married. 

According to a statement from the Archdiocese of Indianapolis it will no longer formally recognize Brebeuf Jesuit Preparatory School as a Catholic school. This comes after a “sincere and significant” disagreement between the archdiocese and the Jesuit religious order’s Midwest province over the church’s attempt to get involved in an employment matter. The school “respectfully declined” the archdiocese’s order to dismiss a “highly capable and qualified teacher” because of that teacher’s same-sex marriage.

“Regrettably, Brebeuf Jesuit Preparatory School has freely chosen not to enter into such agreements that protect the important ministry of communicating the fullness of Catholic teaching to students,” the archdiocese’s statement read. “Therefore, Brebeuf … will no longer be recognized as a Catholic institution by the Archdiocese of Indianapolis.”

The school decided to follow its own conscience on the matter. The school said the archdiocese’s mandate would “harm” its “highly capable and qualified teachers and staff.”

“After long and prayerful consideration, we determined that following the Archdiocese’s directive would not only violate our informed conscience on this particular matter, but also set a concerning precedent for future interference in the school’s operations and other governance matters that Brebeuf Jesuit leadership has historically had the sole right and privilege to address and decide,” the school said. 

The school is trying to figure out how to appeal the archdiocese’s directive but insisted that Brebeuf will remain a Catholic school despite not being recognized as one. The archdiocese will still allow Jesuit priests to serve at the school and celebrate the sacraments, according to administrators.

Indiana Tax Business Denies Service To Lesbian Couple Cites Religious Beliefs

Indiana Tax Business Denies Service To Lesbian Couple, Cites Religious Beliefs

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Carver Tax Service in Russiaville, Indiana had done Bailey Brazzel’s taxes for the past 4 years, but that ended this year when Brazzel showed up with her wife, Samantha.. The two were married in Peru in July and were filing their taxes jointly for the first time.  

This year though Nancy Fivecoate, who runs Carver Tax refused to do their taxes citing her religious beliefs, and recommended another tax service business which would work with them.

“At first we thought she was kidding, But when she started talking about the Bible, we knew she was serious – and I was completely shocked.” Brazzel said. “You hear about it all the time, but nothing like this has happened to us before. She had done my taxes with no issues before, but now that we were married and she didn’t agree with my life choices, she wouldn’t.”

Fivecoate has said she is simply sticking to her religious convictions.

“This year, [Brazzel] came with her wife and I declined to prepare the taxes because of my religious beliefs,” Fivecoate said in a released statement. “I am a Christian and I believe marriage is between one man and one woman. I was very respectful to them. I told them where I thought she might be able to get her taxes prepared.”

Fivecoate (of course) said she has other gay clients, and has no issues preparing their taxes. She said it becomes an issue when the couple is married.

Denying a gay couple service is perfectly legal in parts of Indiana that haven’t passed ordinances specifically protecting people who are LGBT. That includes Russiaville and Howard County where Carver Tax Service is located.

Indiana law makes it illegal to deny services to people based on their race, color, national origin, ancestry, religion, sex, familial status (having children under 18) and disability – but not sexual orientation.

Fifty years after the Stonewall riots and fifty-five years after the passage of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, there is still no explicit federal protections against discrimination for LGBT Americans.

Gay Democratic Mayor Pete Buttigieg Announces 2020 Presidential Campaign Run

Gay Democratic Mayor Pete Buttigieg Announces 2020 Presidential Campaign Run

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Gay Democrat Pete Buttigieg, (pictured above right) the 37-year-old mayor of South Bend, Indiana, is forming an exploratory committee for a 2020 presidential bid.

“The reality is there’s no going back, and there’s no such thing as ‘again’ in the real world. We can’t look for greatness in the past,” Buttigieg says in a video that includes before-and-after footage of South Bend, a Rust Belt city once described as “dying.”

“Right now our country needs a fresh start,” he says.

Buttigieg is a Rhodes scholar who was first elected mayor of his hometown in 2011 at age 29 — making him the youngest mayor of a U.S. city with at least 100,000 residents. A lieutenant in the Navy Reserve, he served a tour in Afghanistan in 2014.

If he were to win the Democratic nomination, Buttigieg would be the first openly gay presidential nominee from a major political party.

Indiana High School Sued Over Not Allowing The Words "Gay", "Lesbian" "GSA", or “Gay-Straight Alliance” for School Group

Indiana High School Sued Over Not Allowing The Words “Gay”, “Lesbian” “GSA”, or “Gay-Straight Alliance” for School Group

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There is a gay-straight alliance at Leo Jr. Sr. High School in Allen County, Indiana. but you wouldn’t know it because the school has banned all descriptive words words that can be used to name it.. Instead only permitted to refer to itself as a “Pride Alliance.”, BUT the “Pride” in its name is not allowed to refer to LGBT Pride. Instead the group is  required to be used as a reference to an a common school acronym: “Professionalism, Respect, Integrity, Diligence, and Excellence.”

ACLU Indiana is suing the school on the student groups behalf.

Via The Daily Beast:

“There is a lot of language policing,” Ken Falk, legal director for the American Civil Liberties Union of Indiana, told The Daily Beast, but it may go well beyond that, too, according to the complaint, filed at the end of November in U.S. District Court.

The ACLU of Indiana’s complaint alleges the Leo Pride Alliance is treated differently from other extracurricular clubs at the school, claiming that it is “not allowed to meet outside of a single classroom,” that it is barred from participating in school fundraisers, and that it can only put up a bulletin board “if members performed community service outside of the school, a requirement not imposed on any other club.”

Other clubs, by contrast, are reportedly allowed to host activities outside of their regular meetings.

According to the complaint, the Leo Pride Alliance has been in existence for two years and now boasts over 30 members. The lawsuit alleges that Leo Jr. Sr. High School staff have told the GSA that it can’t even use terms like “gay” or “lesbian” or “queer” in its advertising—terms that would help LGBT students understand the club’s purpose of providing support and community.

Falk states that denying a GSA its full name not only violates the First Amendment but also sends a potentially damaging message to LGBT youth, many of whom are in early and potentially vulnerable stages of coming out.

The complaint also alleges that the Leo Pride Alliance’s faculty advisor “is required to send a list of all club members to all faculty”—and that no other clubs are required to follow this protocol.

There are currently over 4,000 GSAs in the United States and court cases have repeatedly upheld both their right to exist under the federal Equal Access Act and their right to call themselves “gay-straight alliances” rather than something more euphemistic. The Equal Access Act, passed in 1984, requires schools that allow extracurricular clubs to treat them fairly.

 “This is our fourth GSA case [in Indiana], and the law in this area seems to be pretty much settled but yet we keep coming back to it.”

An East Allen County, Indiana Schools spokesperson said, “We take the rights of our students seriously. We are looking into this matter.”

Yeah right.

Indiana Church Kicked Out of Building For Posting LGBT Hate Sign

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The Remnant Fellowship Church of Auburn, Indiana has been kicked out of its building after posting a sign in front that said “LGBTQ is a hate crime.”

NewsChannel 15 Indiana the sign sparked outrage among members of the community after many people drove by it., A statement from church elder Robert Sturges, said, “We’re trying to reach a certain group of people. They’re being told in our culture that homosexuality, transvestites, lesbianism and sexual immorality is ok. But the Bible clearly says that those who practice these things will not inherit the Kingdom of God. In fact, it warns them that the wrath of God will abide upon them. And in the judgment, they will be lost and they will be sent to hell forever. We believe that. That’s our faith.”

Sturges said he wants to remind people who talk about tolerance that his church believes the Bible and they are not afraid to stand firm in their beliefs.

“We do love them,” Sturges said. “But we want to warn them that they are headed toward a cliff and if they keep going that way, they’ll be destroyed. And that is what the sign is about.

An unnamed church member told Raw Story that the congregation has been “evicted” and that they are “looking for another building.”

After the sign caused so much controversy, Kristin Russell of Indiana University posted on her Facebook page that she went to the church and rearranged the letters to say, “Stay open minded,”

“It was unacceptable and needed to be changed, so I took matters into my own hands and did just that,” she said.

 

 

MIAMI: Lyft Driver Pulls Out Gun, Tells Passenger He Wants to Kill All Gay People

Indianapolis, IN Gay Couple Kicked Out of LYFT Ride After Kissing

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Alec Jansen and Ben Martella, students at Butler University in Indianapolis, told The Indianapolis Star that a Lyft driver ordered them out of his car about a mile from campus, where he picked them up after the couple gave each other a “a short kiss on the lips.”

“We basically pecked, nothing out of the ordinary,” Martella,said. “He looked in his rear view mirror. He was yelling. We were stunned. We didn’t know the reason for it.”

Martella said the driver yelled, “I’m going to end your ride. I can’t have that in my car. I don’t have that here.”

A Lyft spokesperson emphasized the company’s nondiscrimination policies for drivers and told the Star the driver was “deactivated.”

Lyft includes sexual orientation in its anti-discrimination policy and last year launched an initiative with the Southern Poverty Law Center to protect minority passengers from discrimination by white supremacists on rides.