ACLU of Indiana continues to lead statewide efforts through newly founded LGBTQ initiative
INDIANPOLIS – The American Civil Liberties Union of Indiana announced today the statewide launch of the LGBTQ Rights Project. The LGBTQ Rights Project captures the ACLU of Indiana’s previous, current and future work as the only statewide organization working to defend and advance the rights of LGBTQ Hoosiers on all fronts.
As a historic leader in the fight for LGBTQ rights, the ACLU of Indiana offers a unique base of resources to defend civil liberties through advocacy, education and litigation. At a national level the ACLU brought its first LGBTQ rights case in 1936 and founded the LGBTQ Project in 1986. Locally, the ACLU of Indiana has deployed its resources to fight for LGBTQ rights since its inception in 1953.
“We have made great strides here in Indiana, but our work is far from done. LGBTQ community members continue to face attacks on their constitutional rights by business owners, school administrations and elected officials across our state,” said Jane Henegar, executive director of the ACLU of Indiana. “Whether it be a transgender student’s right to use the correct restroom, or a couple’s right to purchase a wedding cake free from discrimination, we will continue to fight in court and in the statehouse for fairness and equality for all of our community.”
The ACLU of Indiana LGBTQ Rights Project will encompass all of the organizations current and future work including current legal action, the Transgender Education and Advocacy Program (TEAP) and advocacy work such as pushing the Indiana House to vote “no” on Senate Bill 65, which could prevent schools from discussing any LGBTQ issues without express written permission from parents.
“We are seeing attempts to use religion to discriminate, such as the recent Masterpiece Cakeshop ruling at the national level, and the 2016 Religious Freedom Restoration Act here in Indiana” said Katie Blair, advocacy director at ACLU of Indiana. “The LGBTQ Rights Project is fighting to ensure no member of our community faces discrimination based on their sexual orientation or gender identity.”
