The forward motion of coastal states sometimes creates a backlash here in Indiana; not everything that benefits our movement helps all LGBT people. Sometimes our brother and sisters from more progressive areas fail to realize that there are very real repercussions to their struggles that they rarely see. I don't begrudge them their victories - far from it; I simply want them to acknowledge that their advance could have a cost they don't pay.

Indiana isn't a hotbed of marriage equality activism. Our state equality org doesn't support marriage equality, but instead fights against a marriage amendment. (Think about it for a minute and you'll see the reasoning behind the strategic move.) Nonetheless, when Advance America announced it would be rallying homophobes at the Indiana Statehouse, the local LGBT mailing list went wild.

Pepper Partin and a handful of other activists decided to plan and lead the Rock Indiana rally outside of the Statehouse and they delivered the Hoosier state's largest LGBT rally. As over 2000 evangelical Christians and politicians from both sides of the political divide thundered their disapproval of our relationships, Rock Indiana drew over 1000 LGBT people and allies outside in the snow and bitter cold.

The Mission

Jerame Davis, Seth Kreigh, Jeff Newman and I plotted to interrupt the Advance America rally. With a dozen prominent politicians scheduled to speak and momentum for a marriage amendment growing quickly, we felt someone had to directly confront these jokers when they blatantly lied.

We formed a small group called Indiana Action Network and Jerame, Seth and I ironed the group's logo on the back of white dress shirts. To complete our disguise we bought old sportscoats at Goodwill to hide the doctored shirts.

On the day of the rally Jerame, Seth, and I dressed in our Christian drag and milled around inside while still staying on the edge of the crowd by the stage. Jeff ran a video camera and kept his distance so he could remain an unconnected observer.

All four network television stations had sent news crews to cover the dueling rallies. We knew we had an opportunity like no other when we overheard the news crew standing next to us that they were going to a live shot for the noon broadcast.

Just as we saw the reporter acknowledge the toss, the leader of the rally screeched one of many lies of the day. That is when we threw off our coats to expose our gay rights logo and started screaming "Liar!" and pumping our fists in the air.

That's when all hell broke loose.

Like Christians Thrown to the Lions

Notice that right after we started calling out the lies, the fundies went nuts. They started shoving us, spitting on us, and screaming in our faces. The one thing these rightwingers didn't expect was for the gays to fight back and publicly label them for the jackasses they are.

Jerame, Seth and I were together and the plan was for all of us to make our way to the middle aisle and stand in front of the podium where we'd shout every time one of the speakers told a lie. (After all, lying is a sin too!) Once we started, Seth was able to make his way to the middle of the room but Jerame and I were surrounded and blocked off.

The Indiana State Police quickly moved to intervene and surrounded the three of us. The brave men and women in uniform didn't attempt to remove us from the building, instead they were there to protect us while we exercised our right to free speech. It took over a dozen uniformed officers to keep the fundies from tearing us to bits like a Christian fed to the lions. We continued yelling and disrupting the anti-gay speakers through the entire rally.

As it ended, the police escorted us to the exit for our safety. The Rock Indiana folks were starting to stream into the building after word spread that a few of us were inside taking on the religious right, but the police kept them on either side of the large hallways that lead to the Statehouse rotunda. When we emerged into the hall, the entire place erupted in cheers and clapping as we blinked in surprise at finding hundreds of LGBT activists inside the Statehouse waiting for us.

As the fundies left their anti-gay rally, they too had to walk down the corridor lined with LGBT activists. We chanted and stomped and - civilly - let them know how strongly we disagreed with their prejudiced and hateful agenda. We told the religious right, the media and our state politicians that we weren't going to be the whipping post any longer.

Doing the Work Cut Out for Us

Local political reporter Normon Cox says at the end of his ABC report:

"Gay and lesbian organizers say they believe they can stop the proposed constitutional amendment which must pass this legislature, then the one elected in two years, and then a referendum by the people. But given the huge favorable margins it has received so far in the legislature, they may have their work cut out for them."

Indiana's proposed amendment to outlaw same-sex marriage and civil unions passed in 2005, but failed to pass the next hurdle and never made it to referendum. While Indiana has a DOMA law that bans same-sex marriages, it is one of very few states that do not have a constitutional amendment.

Why?

Because the state's largest LGBT rally happened that day in the snow and the cold. Because a few activists decided to speak truth to power in a way that had never happened before in Indiana. Because we refused to be left out of the discussion.

Instead of a one-sided monologue hell-bent on stripping us of our dignity, we kick-started a real discussion on the merits and facts of this amendment. We responded to the lies and misrepresentations and we got the truth into the hands of legislators.

The LGBT community came away energized, excited and ready to fight. We weren't fighting for Massachusetts' marriage rights or even our own since it was already illegal.

We fought for ourselves because no one else would.

With no hate crimes protections, no employment non-discrimination laws, no housing or public accommodations protections, we still fight for our lives.

Every day.