Through sweet victory a bitter taste yet haunts my tongue.
Email from indiana equality 4/7/09
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This morning Vermont became the fourth state to legalize same-sex marriage. The Vermont House and Senate chose to override Governor Jim Douglas’ veto with a 100-49 vote in the House and a 23-5 vote in the Senate.
Indiana acknowledges the this historic show of support on the part of the Vermont Legislature, as it is the first legislative body to endorse same-sex marriage in the entire country. Unfortunately, Indiana is in quite a different situation as LGBT Hoosiers can still be fired from their jobs and denied housing simply for being lesbian, gay, bisexual, or transgender.
So how does this affect things in Indiana? While Indiana’s proposed Marriage Discrimination Amendment is dead for the 2009 session of the Indiana General Assembly, it is likely that this issue will be raised again in 2010. Please watch the Indiana Equality website and blog for additional information and analysis.
Indiana Equality continues to be at the forefront - working to pass Civil Rights and Bias Crimes protections, and is committed to fighting the discriminatory “Marriage” amendment if introduced in 2010.
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YAY VERMONT! This news was slightly dampened by the line about Hoosiers can still be fired and denied housing based on orientation or sexual identity. That's sad. And infuriating. And at some point I'm going to have to bring up the subject of homosexuality/bisexuality/everthing with that up with my parents, and it's not going to be pretty. They'll ask what PRIDE is and I'll have to answer.
But you know what? A part of me is still quivering jelly with no guts, crying terrified tears. But the rest of me is electroplating and thickening my metaphorical skin with steel. Because this is important. Not just to me, and my friends, but the rest of the country.
Some people are impeding progress because they're being homophobic, change-fearing bigoted assholes, and I'm not going to stand for it. (i'm not speaking to those of you who are homophobic but don't want to tread on anyone else's rights. You can have your thoughts and feelings, but it gets hard when people want to keep rights away from people who are still people.)
People here know that I am bisexual although I am in a heterosexual relationship. People at home suspect nothing. That's why I've been afraid to date girls in the past, or even tell anyone that I liked girls in addition to liking boys. It shouldn't have to be that way. No one should be afraid and have to hide parts of themselves just to keep the peace, anywhere. No one should be denied housing or employment based on something that doesn't even affect work or, say, paying the rent on time. Some heterosexual people don't pay the rent on time. What about them?
This is a step forward. Granted it's in Vermont and this is Indiana. With the passing of winter I have more energy. This is something I want to work for. I had hoped we were done with oppression in this country, but it turns out I'm wrong, again.
http://www.nolo.com/article.cfm/objectId/E76BEBE6-E194-46C1-983629F17557E86D/111/259/283/ART/
Indiana is not on the list of states with laws prohibiting sexual orientation discrimination in the workplace. Why?
http://indianaequality.org/forward.aspx?c=HTK&u=http://www.indianaequality.org/view/civilrights.aspx
http://indianaequality.org/forward.aspx?c=HTK&u=/view/civil_rights_fact_sheet.aspx
I'm starting from here. Homework doesn't take all of my time. I'm going to try. I hope most of you are with me [I know some of you aren't because of your views, but I respect that. Just don't try to stop me ; ) lol ]
Indiana acknowledges the this historic show of support on the part of the Vermont Legislature, as it is the first legislative body to endorse same-sex marriage in the entire country. Unfortunately, Indiana is in quite a different situation as LGBT Hoosiers can still be fired from their jobs and denied housing simply for being lesbian, gay, bisexual, or transgender.
So how does this affect things in Indiana? While Indiana’s proposed Marriage Discrimination Amendment is dead for the 2009 session of the Indiana General Assembly, it is likely that this issue will be raised again in 2010. Please watch the Indiana Equality website and blog for additional information and analysis.
Indiana Equality continues to be at the forefront - working to pass Civil Rights and Bias Crimes protections, and is committed to fighting the discriminatory “Marriage” amendment if introduced in 2010.
===================
YAY VERMONT! This news was slightly dampened by the line about Hoosiers can still be fired and denied housing based on orientation or sexual identity. That's sad. And infuriating. And at some point I'm going to have to bring up the subject of homosexuality/bisexuality/
But you know what? A part of me is still quivering jelly with no guts, crying terrified tears. But the rest of me is electroplating and thickening my metaphorical skin with steel. Because this is important. Not just to me, and my friends, but the rest of the country.
Some people are impeding progress because they're being homophobic, change-fearing bigoted assholes, and I'm not going to stand for it. (i'm not speaking to those of you who are homophobic but don't want to tread on anyone else's rights. You can have your thoughts and feelings, but it gets hard when people want to keep rights away from people who are still people.)
People here know that I am bisexual although I am in a heterosexual relationship. People at home suspect nothing. That's why I've been afraid to date girls in the past, or even tell anyone that I liked girls in addition to liking boys. It shouldn't have to be that way. No one should be afraid and have to hide parts of themselves just to keep the peace, anywhere. No one should be denied housing or employment based on something that doesn't even affect work or, say, paying the rent on time. Some heterosexual people don't pay the rent on time. What about them?
This is a step forward. Granted it's in Vermont and this is Indiana. With the passing of winter I have more energy. This is something I want to work for. I had hoped we were done with oppression in this country, but it turns out I'm wrong, again.
http://www.nolo.com/articl
Indiana is not on the list of states with laws prohibiting sexual orientation discrimination in the workplace. Why?
http://indianaequality.org
http://indianaequality.org
I'm starting from here. Homework doesn't take all of my time. I'm going to try. I hope most of you are with me [I know some of you aren't because of your views, but I respect that. Just don't try to stop me ; ) lol ]
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