UPDATE (March 23, 2023):
INDIANAPOLIS, Ind. (ADAMS) – A state House bill to ban conversations around sexuality through third grade in Indiana schools will be voted on by the Senate next week.
On Wednesday, the Senate Education Committee approved the bill on a 9-4 vote, with the legislation also requiring schools to notify parents if a child comes out as transgender.
The bill has been compared to Florida’s “Don’t Say Gay” law. The LGBTQ community says the bill is not needed, while some conservatives say it isn’t strong enough and needs to cover all students through 12th grade.
Read more here
UPDATE (March 22, 2023):
FORT WAYNE, Ind. (ADAMS) – Indiana’s House Bill 1608, which is being compared to Florida’s “Don’t Say Gay” law will be heard Wednesday morning by the Senate Education Committee.
It would ban instruction on sexual orientation, gender roles, identity, and expression for kids between kindergarten and third grade.
The Fort Wayne group ‘No Hate in Our State’ has rallied and sent hundreds of postcards to lawmakers opposing the measure. One of the group’s organizers will also testify in this morning’s committee.
Representatives of the group released the following:
The No Hate in Our State Rally on March 11, drew over 800 people to the Allen County Courthouse to voice their opposition to the proposed bills that target LGBTQ families and youth (SB12, SB480, and HB1608). At the rally, over 600 postcards were signed by Northeast Indiana residents who oppose these bills that override parents’ decisions and rob students of safe spaces to learn at school. Thad Gerardot, one of the organizers of the No Hate in Our State Rally, will travel to the Indiana Statehouse on Wednesday with Fort Wayne residents who oppose the anti-LGBTQ bills to hand deliver the postcards to state legislators. He will also testify in the Senate Education and Career Development committee against HB 1608 (Don’t Say Gay/Trans Bill).
The postcard states:
Dear Legislator,
I know the Indiana General Assembly has introduced a record number of bills attacking LGBTQ Hoosiers this year. These bills single out our lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer Hoosier families by sending a message that they are not welcome in Indiana. LGBTQ people belong everywhere, including in our state, and I will not stand for these attack bills. I am asking you to focus on the issues that are most important to Hoosiers like healthcare, education, and the economy. You should not be focusing on overriding parent’s decisions to provide medical care for their transgender children or banning books in their school libraries. Please vote NO on any bills that target LGBTQ Hoosiers.
The public is encouraged to contact their state legislators and urge them to vote no on the anti-LGBTQ proposed bills that would harm our youth and our educators. SB480 passed committee on Tuesday, March 21 and moved to the full House. HB 1608 will be heard on Wednesday morning by the Senate Education Committee.
UPDATE (February 21, 2023):
INDIANAPOLIS, Ind. (ADAMS) – Indiana’s House Bill 1608 has been passed by the House Education Committee by a 9-4 vote.
The bill is being compared to Florida’s “Don’t Say Gay” law and would ban schools from giving students instruction on sexual orientation, gender roles, identity, and expression between kindergarten and third grade.
Over 100 LGBTQ advocates were at the statehouse to oppose the bill yesterday.
Read more here
ORIGINAL STORY:
INDIANAPOLIS, Ind. (ADAMS) – Faith leaders in Indiana are asking lawmakers not to promote bills that target LGBTQ+ youth this legislative session.
Close to 100 people signed a letter Thursday to be sent to the General Assembly. This comes as lawmakers consider nearly 20 bills addressing gender identity, sexual orientation, and gender-affirming care.
On Monday, a rally in support of the LGBTQ+ community is planned at the Statehouse before the House Education Committee hears House Bill 1608 which would ban instruction on sexual orientation and gender identity in kindergarten through third-grade classrooms.
Read more here
