{"id":38432,"date":"2025-02-08T06:46:34","date_gmt":"2025-02-08T11:46:34","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/unitedresourceconnection.org\/cannon-ball-nd-58528\/annual-aclu-event-highlights-lgbtq-rights\/"},"modified":"2025-02-08T06:46:37","modified_gmt":"2025-02-08T11:46:37","slug":"annual-aclu-event-highlights-lgbtq-rights","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/unitedresourceconnection.org\/cannon-ball-nd-58528\/annual-aclu-event-highlights-lgbtq-rights\/","title":{"rendered":"Annual ACLU event highlights LGBTQ+ Rights"},"content":{"rendered":"
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\"Kelly<\/a><\/p>\n

Kelly L. Donahue, PhD, a pediatric and clinical child and adolescent psychologist. (Photo by Aliyah Keuthan)<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

INDIANAPOLIS \u2013 The American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) converged on the main floor of the State House in Indianapolis, Indiana on Thursday morning, January 30th, along with a throng of people representing organizations across the state in support of rights for the LGBTQIAP+ community. The annual ACLU event focused this year on the positive aspects of networking, making connections, raising awareness of resources, and community outreach, all of which are cornerstones of community building, which can counter the discriminatory hurdles thrown in the paths of the most vulnerable, most marginalized members of society. (www.aclu-in.org<\/a>).<\/p>\n

J.D. Ford (D) an Indiana State Senator (district 29) since 2018, spoke of the fear that has gripped the nation in the wake of recent Executive Orders and bill proposals generated by those who have aligned themselves against the LGBTQ+ community. Senator Ford was encouraged and inspired by the crowd. \u201cI see hope in this room,\u201d he observed, \u201c\u2026our community is not defined by fear; it is not defined by hate!\u201d<\/p>\n

Kelly L. Donahue, PhD, a pediatric and clinical child and adolescent psychologist, co-director of Riley Hospital for Children\u2019s Gender Health Program, and member of medical faculty for Indiana University, spoke on the need to focus on patient care, not politics. She stated that medical providers should not be \u201cforced to prioritize political interests over the wellbeing of children.\u201d<\/p>\n

Zoe O\u2019Haillin Berne, Marketing and Engagement Coordinator for Indiana Youth Group (IYG) in Indianapolis, cited the recent \u201cdiscriminatory Executive Orders,\u201d issued by the Trump Administration, as \u201cpreventing people from accessing health care.\u201d Berne discussed the importance for \u201cyoung people to be validated\u201d and know that they have \u201ca safe space, a place where they belong.\u201d Speaking to the many teens in the audience, Berne exclaimed, \u201cYou deserve access to competent health care. You are valuable! You are worthy! You belong!\u201d<\/p>\n

IYG provides support programs and basic needs to the one in four openly LGBTQ+ youths that must leave or are kicked out of their homes, as a result of being honest and revealing their gender identities to their families. (www.iyg.org<\/a>). IYG support programs include Project Prism rapid rehousing, Basic Needs such as clothing, transitional apparel for trans people, hygiene and cleaning products, food pantry access, shower and laundry facilities, HIV and STI testing, advocacy, support groups, educational support, affinity groups, transportation, independent living skills, risk prevention, as well as access to Indiana Genders and Sexualities Alliance Network (ingsa@iyg.org<\/a>).<\/p>\n

Executive Director of Gender Nexus, Emma Vosicky, JD, MAT (www.gendernexus.org<\/a>, Emma@ GenderNexus.org<\/a>), spoke on the need to protect the rights of and access to services for gender-diverse youth and adults. Gender Nexus provides multiple counseling and referral services, including 100% free legal services, to gender-diverse individuals. In response to concerns over recent attacks on legal rights and reversals of legislation on gender-affirming health care and right to change gender markers on legal documents, Vosicky stated, \u201cWe must not be afraid to speak the truth of who we are. We shall not cower in fear. We make this world richer and fuller.\u201d The crowd replied with a resounding chorus of, \u201cWe won\u2019t go back!\u201d joined by Vosicky, the phrase echoed repeatedly throughout the vast expanse of the Indiana State House.<\/p>\n

Gender Nexus is in partnership with organizations such as Gender Expansive Kids and Co. (GEKCO), a support group for families of transgender kids in Central Indiana, peer-led with Melissa Bicknel and Krisztina Inskeep (www.INgekco.com<\/a>). Trinity Haven, another partner organization, provides housing options through their Transitional Living and Host Homes programs that are safe, welcoming and affirming for LGBTQ+ young adults.<\/p>\n

LGBTQ-affirming Christian organizations were represented by several clergy, church, and outreach members. Reverend David C. Sassman resides in Indiana. His church, Circle Sanctuary, based in Barneveld, Wisconsin is an inclusive church that affirms all gender identities. Youth Leader, Tre Hutchinson, and Children\u2019s Minister, Becky White, of Life Journey Church (LJC) of Indianapolis, passed out pamphlets from their information booth declaring support for gender-diverse congregation and youth group members. It was an inspiring sight to see a long procession of clergy forming a human train moving together in unity throughout the diverse crowd, each one committed to diversity, equality, and inclusion (DEI) in their congregations and communities and in support of children, teens, and adults who identify as LGBTQIAP+.<\/p>\n

Local Pride Centers from Terre Haute and Spencer, Indiana shared resources with the public from their information booths. Katie Lugar, Board President of Pride Center Terre Haute, stated that the center, in existence since 2021, has maintained a presence on the Indiana State University (ISU) campus for two years to support the LGBTQIA+ community of the Wabash Valley. (www.pridecenterterrehaute.org<\/a>). Lugar expressed disappointment saying, \u201cWe are in transition, looking for a new location. We had a Pride Center on campus but we were asked to leave because of \u2018the political climate\u2019.\u201d ISU alumnus, Kim Fidler, the UniServ Director for the Indiana State Teachers Association displayed visible disgust over the plight of Pride Center Terre Haute and wondered if the sudden defunding of DEI might have something to do with the decision by ISU to evict the Pride Center. It appears that alumni will not rest quietly until this dilemma is resolved.<\/p>\n

Judith Epp of Spencer Pride (www.spencerpride.org<\/a>) voiced her concerns about equal rights, stating that men seeking gender affirming health care such as \u201cmale enhancment\u201d drugs, testosterone treatments for fertility, drugs to counter male-pattern baldness, and vasectomies to prevent unwanted pregnancies have no such rules applied to them as the rules governing abortion care and invitro fertilization, or birth control for women, or transitional gender-affirming health care.<\/p>\n

G. David Caudillo, MPA, is an Association of Fundraising Professionals member and fundraiser for Equality Indiana, an LGBTQIA+ equality movement that began in protest against oppression and marginalization of the LGBTQIA+ community. Equality Indiana unites pro- LGBTQIA+ voters to \u201cqueer the vote\u201d in Indiana. Caudillo stated, \u201cEqual protection rules apply to everyone, equally.\u201d<\/p>\n

Lucie Mathieu of Spencer Pride pointed to a double standard that voters have regarding government controls and the eradication of DEI requirements, \u201cAs long as the government is controlling somebody else, it\u2019s okay. People will vote for control of other people but not for control of themselves.\u201d Epp observed how that can backfire when rules that restrict discrimination no longer apply and are equally as troublesome for veterans, seniors, and people with disabilities as they are for LGBTQ+, women, and AIPOC individuals, their communities and groups. \u201cWhen veterans and People with disabilities can\u2019t get jobs then they\u2019ll wonder what went wrong.\u201d<\/p>\n

The crowd showed no signs of retreat when the chandeliers gracing the elegant ceiling of the Indiana State House reverberated with delight as the people chanted, \u201cThe people, united, will never be divided!\u201d<\/p>\n

(Contact Aliyah Keuthan at ketraldancing@gmail.com<\/a>)<\/p>\n

The post Annual ACLU event highlights LGBTQ+ Rights<\/a> first appeared on Native Sun News Today<\/a>.<\/p>\n

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Kelly L. Donahue, PhD, a pediatric and clinical child and adolescent psychologist. (Photo by Aliyah Keuthan) INDIANAPOLIS \u2013 The American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) converged on the main floor of the State House in Indianapolis, Indiana on Thursday morning, January 30th, along with a throng of people representing organizations across <\/p>\n

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