Join Indy Impact and LGBT people across America as we march on Washington DC on National Coming Out Day - October 11th. Indy Impact has organized a special Coming Out Day event for all the Hoosiers who are unable to make it to DC, but want to come out in support of equal rights - regardless of sexual orientation or gender identity. Find out more about the Coming Out Day celebration after the jump.

In a unanimous decision by their State Supreme Court, Iowa became the first state in the Midwest to allow same-sex marriage, giving all of hope that one day our own state will legally recognize our relationships. Vermont challenged the notion that only "activist judges" are willing to recognize us as equals by overriding a Governor's veto to pass a same-sex marriage bill.

This past year also brought a fully inclusive Employee Non-Discrimination Act (ENDA) before congress. Our President has promised an end to the military's "Don't Ask - Don't Tell" policy as well as publically supporting LGBT rights. And after ten long years since Matthew Shepard's brutal anti-gay slaying, a bill, named in his honor, is finally set to give federal protection by adding sexual orientation and gender identity to the federal hate crimes law.

In order to continue this momentum, Equality Across America is coordinating a National Equality March on Washington D.C., October 10th and 11th. While lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender individuals and their advocates march on Washington, Indy Impact will be bringing their message to the Heartland by hosting a Coming Out Day celebration in downtown Indianapolis on Sunday, October 11th, 2009 from 2PM-6PM in the courtyard of the City-County Building, 200 E. Washington Street.

October 11th - National Coming Out Day - is an important day for the LGBT community to unite under the common experiences we've had when faced with the discrimination, inequality, and even hostility of coming out when we show our true selves. It is in this spirit that Indy Impact will be bringing together members of our community to share our common history fighting for equal rights here in Indiana. Speakers to be represented during the day's events include (but are not limited to - list is tentative and may change at anytime):

• Indiana Equality
• Indy Pride
• Bag Ladies
• IYG
• ACLU
• Representation from Rep. Andre Carson
• Indie Artist Martine Locke
• LGBT businesses
• Individuals committed to making an impact in the lives of LGBT Hoosiers

Regardless of whether one considers themselves an "activist" or not, by our very nature (and the coming out process endured by all LGBT and even our advocates), we all have a story to share about making an impact for LGBT rights.

We will also provide a number of special events focused on making our community more active in the fight for LGBT rights. Write a postcard to President Obama stating why you need equal rights and protections. Find out how to contact our federal and state representatives about supporting LGBT issues and keeping Indiana's legislature from approving an anti-gay marriage amendment. Learn about the organizations that fight for our rights each and every day and how you can help. This October 11th - COME OUT and become part of the movement demanding "Equal Rights for Equal People."

Indy Impact is a grassroots LGBT activist organization dedicated to making a visable impact for LGBT rights throughout Indiana. Ran completely by volunteers, Indy Impact has joined the national movement for equal rights, regardless of sexual orientation or gender identity. The Coming Out Day celebration has been graciously sponsored by The Word who provided us ad space in the October Issue of The Word and IndyPrint.net for the beautiful flyers posted on community boards throughout the city and surrounding area. The event will be professionally photographed thanks to Catherine Keen of Keen Photography. Indy Impact would also like to thank Martine Locke, singer/songwriter, for offering to share her spotlight by inviting Indy Impact to be a part of her concert October 10th. Indy Impact can be found at www.indyimpact.com or on twitter.com/indyimpact. For questions concerning the day's events or how to make an impact for LGBT rights in Indiana, please contact Zac Hart (Co-Founder) at indyimpact@gmail.com

More after the jump...

After a few days of mulling the idea around (and taking a much needed breather from organizing the Day of Decision protest), we had the name of our event - A Taste of Equality and contacted Kathy at John's Fine Wine and Spirits (21N. Pennsylvania in downtown Indy) and we started planning our first fundraiser.

Our original plans called for 8 different wines and for the entire event to take place in the basement of John's, a wine cellar converted from old bank vault. Once presale tickets were printed, flyers were posted and we started advertising the event, we soon realized that this event was going to be MUCH bigger than anticipated. What started off as a possible 20-30 people soon became 60-70 with over a week until the actual event took place. As more and more people started asking for presale tickets, Kathy started adding more and more wines to the list, and we decided to expand the wine tasting areas to the upper floor of John's.

By the night of the event, Kathy included over 20 wines to be sampled by our guests. Expecting upwards of 100 people, we added an additional sampling area across the street at Vito's. We decided to capitalize on the momentum and pulled together a raffle to raise additional funds to be donated to Lambda Legal. The raffle included three (3) wine carriers, two (2) pedicures, a set of two (2) 4th row Fever tickets, and a wine basket complete with three (3) bottles of wine and two (2) crystal wine glasses.

Over the evening, we encouraged everyone to write messages on two canvases that included the flyer for "A Taste of Equality" and the Indy Impact Logo. As we raffled off the prizes, we passed around the canvases, having everyone write why they supported marriage equality, regardless of orientation. It is our plan to present these messages to the Indiana State Legislature the next time the anti-gay marriage amendment is reconsidered.

By the end of the evening we had close to 100 people in attendance and raised over $1200. After paying for the h'orderves, flyers, and decorations, and providing enough money to keep the Indy Impact website up for 6 more months, we are still able to donate $1000 to Lambda Legal!

If you missed the first Taste of Equality, don't fret! We are already planning A Taste of Equality: The Encore. Though the date hasn't been set yet, it may happen as soon as November. Those who attended our first fundraiser and signed up for our mailing list will be the first to know. Now that we know what a success this type of event can be, we'll be pulling out all the stops to make the next wine tasting even better (including a larger venue!!!).

Though we enjoyed the tremendous success of our first fundraiser, we here at Indy Impact will still be coordinating public demonstrations and rallies to show Hoosiers that we deserve a taste of equality. Our next event will take place in University Park to coincide with the National Equality March on Coming Out Day (October 11th) for those unable to attend the march on Washington.

If you would like to volunteer, help organize, sponsor, or contribute in any way to make this or any other Indy Impact event a success and make an IMPACT for LGBT rights in Indiana, please email Indy Impact at indyimpact@gmail.com. The only way we'll ever secure any of our rights is by taking to the streets and demanding the rest of Indiana take notice.

After living my entire life in and around the Indianapolis area (minus my short stints in San Fran and Tokyo), I finally decided to take the plunge into the "Geekdom" known as GenCon 09. For those of you who are unfamiliar with one of Indy's largest and most successful conventions to come to the Circle City, join me after the jump to be Skool'd by this N00B of the Gaming Convention World.

"Gen Con Indy is the original, longest running, best attended, gaming convention in the world. For over 40 years, Gen Con Indy has been setting the trend and breaking records. Last year, more than 28,000 unique attendees experienced Gen Con Indy. The biggest complaint we hear is that there is simply too much to do, see, and experience. Get lost in a phantasm of art exhibits. Stare at jaw-dropping costumes, or better yet, wear one of your own. Meet the movers and the shakers in the gaming industry. Check out the newest games and get a sneak peek at the latest editions.

And, of course, play your heart out with fellow enthusiasts in a community that understands your passion. What you'll experience at Gen Con Indy is nothing short of IT. You know, whatever "It" is for you? This is IT! Get ready to get there.
"

So my "IT" may be just a tad bit different than the majority of "30,000 thought leaders, trendsetters and diehard enthusiasts in the gaming community" partly due to my sexuality but mostly due to the fact that my gaming has taken a back seat to my Chemistry Career, Husbandry, and political activism for LGBT rights through Indy Impact. But regardless - The world's LARGEST gaming convention and ANIME to boot?! Sounds like a damn good time to me, even if a one day pass costs $48/person. So I dragged my Husband (surprisingly NOT kicking and screaming) and decided to cash in my experience pts to become that Level 28 (Dark Mage) Geek.

We arrived at the convention doors at approximately 11:30AM on Saturday. The line to purchase our convention badges wound from inside the convention center around the corner to Capital street. My husband made the lovely comment "My - this is the most sun any of these people have seen all summer." After chastising him and explaining the political incorrectness of his statement, we were well on our way into a day full of gaming, anime and eye-candy galore.

Surprisingly, the line that stretched around the convention moved quickly and by noon we found ourselves in the exhibition hall. We spent over 4 hours browsing anime stores, gaming kiosks, and art galleries (with artists willing to turn you into your level 28 dark mage for nominal fee). For a newcomer to GenCon, the exhibit hall is very intimidating. With so many convention goers crowding the aisles, and everything on sale from Magic the Gathering cards to REAL glass bottles to hold your favorite Mana Potion, my ADD went in overdrive. It was all I could do to ensure the husband was in tow as I ran from shop to shop looking for my coveted Sailor Moon RPG handbook (for nostalgia purposes of course...). Everyone was extremely pleasant and more than once I was asked to pose for a picture because of my "I'm Gayer Than You" © shirt that I made for Disney World Gay Days back in June.

After the exhibition, we took a much needed break and returned home to let our kids (Skippy the Chihuahua and Diana the beagle) out. Using the GenCon iPhone app, I proceeded to map out the rest of our GenCon experience for the evening, which included watching an independent film about a homeless man sent to kill Vampire Abraham Lincoln in The Transient and the remake of Neon Genesis Evangelion: Rebuild Evangelion. Sadly the few hours we had that evening involved no gaming, but I got to watch Abe Lincoln try to suck the blood of Four-Score and 7 virgins while reliving one of the very reason why I'm still a part of the gaming/anime community: Evangelion .

Overall - the experience was thoroughly enjoyable. Professing my sexuality on my shirt only garnered a disapproving look once, and that was from a 12yo girl who will probably grow up to become a faghag and into Yaoi anyways. The people attending the convention were all thoroughly enjoyable and friendly, though I did sense a lacking in the gay gamer population. Any inclusion of LGBT themed discussion panels or official LGBT meet-ups were completely left out of this year's program. Luckily, GenCon allows many groups to host events at their convention, and considering I'm already considering buying my 4-day pass for next year's GenCon, I plan on changing that. I hope you'll be seeing IndyImpact in next year's list of over 6500 events - hosting the first ever GenCon GayGamer Meetup! Level 29 DarkMage Geek here I come!

The wine tasting will take place on Thursday, August 27, 2009 from six o'clock to eight-thirty in the evening in the wine cellar at John's Fine Wine and Spirits at 21 North Pennsylvania Street, Indianapolis, IN 46204

A limited quantity of advanced tickets are available through John's Fine Wine and Spirits for $15.00 each now through August 25th (Credit Cards Accepted!). Tickets will be available at the door during the event for $25.00 each. All participants must be at least 21 years of age and have valid state or federal identification on them to be admitted.

No, the hubby and I didn't sneak out for a lil' date-night frivolity that I just had to share with you, and no, we didn't get into a fight with a redneck requiring us to leave the theater early (the entertainment of that alone might have been worth the price of admission). Even though I chose the movie tonight, for the first time in my life I walked out in the middle of a movie because it offended me so badly.

Homophobic remarks, racial stereotypes and anti-Semitic slurs abound - in a "children's" movie? You've got to be kidding... Right?!

(May not be work safe - yeah, that's how bad this movie gets)

It didn't help that this "kid" was constantly being gay "sploshed" - emasculating him every chance they got. If you are unfamiliar with "Sploshing," see any MaryKate and Ashley movie where the producer/director/writer purposefully degrades the main characters in embarrassing, typically food-based, antics.

I decided to let that one slide (though it changed my mood towards the movie dramatically). Maybe it was just a one-time thing? Maybe it was secretly written into the script by a gay writer and I was jumping to conclusions, but after another hour of poorly written plotlines and too many action sequences to count, it happened again but this time to our Semitic brethren.

For close to two hours, we endured homophobic, racist, and anti-Semitic jokes/slurs/comments made by the "Robots in Disguise." The longer I watched, the more I felt this was a "specia-mercial" put on by our good ol' friends at the Westboro Baptist Church in order to indoctrinate our children with hate-speech and crude stereotypical one-liners.

I understand the movie was PG-13, but this is still a children's movie. I looked around and saw 8, 10, and 12 years laughing at this crude, hate-filled humor, with the parents sitting quietly next to them. For the next six months, these kids will be pummeled by Transformers commercials, cartoons and toy promos promoting this movie, and no one is saying anything about this?!

Where is GLAAD? Are they too busy watching Kathy Griffin: My Life on the D-List to do their job and actually watch new movies to make sure stuff like this doesn't happen? Is Hasbro content to have their extremely profitable toy line marred with hate speech in the name of "humor?" Did Michael Bay actually approve the script and these jokes before releasing this hot mess onto the public at large?

Wait... Nix that last one. Even though I didn't finish watching Transformers 2, it is quite obvious Michael Bay had absolutely no idea what was going on throughout most of the film, let alone something as insignificant as the dialogue.

There's a line that's been crossed here. Maybe I'm just touchy because police raided a gay bar in Fort Worth, Texas, or a lesbian had her house raided in New York because she was a political activist for gay rights (God - that reminds me... I need to get new locks for my doors). All occurred on the same weekend as the 40th anniversary of the Stonewall riots.

I get it. We're winning equality at an alarming rate and the "Right," wants to knock us down a peg, but a children's movie?! Since when did the Transformer's slogan go from "Robots in Disguise" to "Homophobia in Disguise," and Dammit! Why is no one talking about this?

More info about the event after the jump

This is Indy Impact's first independently organized event. We're pulling out all the stops in order to make this event a success, including a shiny, new (city-issued) "Special Events" permit, which allows us to use a sound system and individuals can now be forced to leave. You will also be able to make an impact by sharing your own personal victories fighting for equal rights. Whether it's standing up for a transgender/gay/bi co-worker, volunteering for a local grassroots (LGBT) movement, or just coming out of the closet and declaring your pride - we all have a personal victory that needs to be celebrated and remembered.

Support Indy Impact and those dedicated to actively securing LGBT rights in Indiana, while witnessing how far we've come since 1969. This event is not a protest, but signs positively supporting the fight for equality will always be welcome at any Indy Impact event. We have accomplished so many great feats once thought impossible and will accomplish so many more with your help. So take a few hours on this historic day to show your pride and commitment to equality regardless of sexual orientation or gender identity.

Date: Sunday June 28th, 2009
Time: 2PM - 6PM
Location: City-County Building - Front Courtyard
200 E Washington Street, Indianapolis, Indiana
Facebook: Stonewall Rally Event Page

Those interested in volunteering to help during the day's events or possibly becoming a speaker are encouraged to contact Indy Impact's Volunteer Email list. To stay updated with the latest information about this event (as they happen), please follow Indy Impact on Twitter.

For more information about this event or Indy Impact, please email me. Individuals wanting to become more active (and visible) fighting for equality should contact Anna in order to be added to our Mailing List or simply visit the Indy Impact website.

Indy Impact is the local grassroots LGBT response to the passage of Proposition 8 in California on November 4th, 2008 and the national protests that followed on November 15th. Their mission is to ensure Hoosiers do not forget that equality for all gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender (GLBT) Americans is not just a coastal issue, but an American issue that effects real people right here in the heartland. For more information about this event and Indy Impact, please go to www.indyimpact.com

Time of Event: 2PM - 7PM
Total Attended: 40-50
Max attended at any given time: 25-30

Media Present:
WIBC, NUVO, IndyStar, Channel Six, Fox News,

Special Guests: Official Representative of Andre Carson, Erin Rosenburg

More after the jump

We spent the last part of the protest marching to Monument Circle, chanting "What do we want? Equality! When do we want it it? Now!" The echoes from the surrounding buildings made our group sound like we were in the hundreds, instead of just a couple dozen. No matter where we turned we heard rallying cries of support. If anything, it makes me feel we are closer to equality than most would have you think. The only problem - people are either too complacent to fight, or just plain scared. Can't tell you the number of queers I saw walk by without saying a word, like our gaydar was in the ship or something. That's okay. Indy Impacts numbers are growing (Just look at this past event compared to the last rally), and we have no plans of going anywhere any time soon.

Check out these great pics.taken with a real camera. More will be posted on the IndyImpact website once I've taken care of my sunburn and soaked my feet in some epsom salt (Hey - this protesting is HARD work!).

Today is D-Day for the gay-rights movement. We have been waiting patiently for a decision from the California Supreme Court since March. At 1 o'clock Eastern, that wait will be over. Over 90 Rallies (Protests or Celebrations depending on the outcome) have been organized across the country in over 20 states (including Indianapolis) to give the first response. LGBT and their allies will be taking to the streets and hopefully taking over the news all evening.

But what happens to the gay rights movement if Proposition 8 is upheld and the right to marry is taken away in California, the same right given by the supreme court justices little more than a year ago?

Find out after the jump.

After there was no decision by the Supreme Court on May 15th (the 1 year anniversary of the landmark ruling to permit gay marriage in California), I was forced to accept this turn of events. Had the Justices planned on overturning Prop 8, why would they overlook this historic day, a day they made historic? Our movement would have gladly taken to the streets on the 1 year anniversary to claim our rights - that we are protected as a minority under the constitution.

The justification could be simple: the justices simply hadn't made a consensus yet and needed more time - but in all reality, they were most likely providing time for law enforcement to be in place because they knew we would protest. This train of thought is only encouraged by the fact that they informed the nation that the decision is Tuesday. The court typically gives 24 hours notice to any decision (i.e. notifying the public Tuesday that a decision will be released Wednesday). When they notify the public on Friday, the decision is typically given the following Monday, but due to the holiday weekend, they've given an additional day notice before releasing their decision. In fact, this was the only weekend that afforded them more than enough time to get their ducks in order, making sure our protests had adequate police enforcement.

So what happens after today when Prop 8 is upheld? We've seen dominoes falling left and right, with the number of states allowing gay marriage doubling, and even quadrupling (depending on if you count California). I, myself, even commented on my work's Gay Employee Resource site that it was like a "gay marriage tidal wave" sweeping across the nation. With an LGBT-negative ruling on Prop 8, that tidal wave is effectively annulled. We as a community will have to realize that the fight is not as easy as Iowa and Vermont would have us to believe. With win after win in our favor, we will have to adjust our thinking and return to the mentality that this is a fight, that we aren't guaranteed anything. If we stop fighting for a single minute, there are people in this nation who will stop at nothing to take away everything we have fought for, which is the real reason for this article.

Our biggest obstacle isn't fighting the complacency in the LGBT community of winning a few states in the Northeast and Iowa, its the Evangelical Religious Right that will be empowered by this turn of events. Their fight and even their political party has taken many serious blows over the past 6 months. With so many states recognizing gay marriage, their argument has been drowned out by our own rallying cries of equality for all. But if and when Proposition 8 is upheld at 1pm Eastern today, they will have all the ammunition they need. No longer will they need to circumvent "activist judges," or ensure state governors veto state bills supporting LGBT rights. In the end it comes down to a vote by the majority.

Some would argue this is how all laws should be passed in America, following the will of the people. But our forefathers knew how easily the public can be swayed, especially if fed lies and propaganda. No minority in America would have rights if laws were only "up to the people." There are inalienable rights spelled out in our constitution to ensure the majority doesn't take advantage of the minority. When Loving v Virginia was ruled on by the US Supreme Court, 2/3rds of Americans believed it was morally acceptable to criminalize interracial marriages. Had this decision been left to the majority, who believes Obama would be president today? By ruling interracial relationships were equal to that of white relationships, Americans were forced (against their will, mind you) to accept that African Americans were equal in every way (at least legally, if not socially).

If and When Proposition 8 is upheld by the CA Supreme Court later this afternoon, all gay rights will be up for grabs in the coming elections. When the 2010 and 2012 elections role around, Evangelicals will be using the full brunt force of their congregations' monetary power to strip every right we have secured - not only marriage rights, but any right the Conservative Right may believe is a "privilege," such as states with GLBT non-discrimination policies. We saw how they came together last year to pass Proposition 8. That will be nothing compared to the fight that is to come when Prop8 shows their methodology actually works.

Lets breakdown the time-line of where our Rights will be in 10 years after Prop 8 is upheld by the CA Supreme Court.

• 2008 - Prop 8 ballot measure passes in California, setting a precedent that all rights not favored by the "majority" can be taken away. Religious right groups rally behind this decision and start preparing for the 2010 election.
• 2010 - Many states with gay marriage rights (including Vermont and Iowa) have been bombarded with inaccurate advertisements and propaganda proclaiming how gay marriage has negatively affected their state. Ballot measures and political campaigns have surfaced to amend each state's constitutions in order to "protect the will of people."
• 2012 - States that needed additional time to amend their constitution have been added to the list. Enough money has been poured into each of these ballot measures that the $80 million spent during Prop 8's passage looks like a pittance. GLBT have no hope but to allow their own marriages to be annulled by their government.
• 2016 - With Gay Marriage no longer an issue, the religious right focuses their attention on states with GLBT non-discrimination policies and other LGBT "protections" under the pretense that it violates their right to "Freedom of Religion." The only people still protected after the 2016 elections are those working for Fortune 500 companies who enacted their own non-discrimination policies.
• 2020 - Sodomy laws are once again enacted in the United States, the only difference is that all reference to heterosexual sodomy (i.e. adultery) have been left out. We are once again considered criminals, hunted down because of who we chose to love. The only difference is that with Homeland Security there will be no safe-havens, nowhere to hide. They will know exactly who we are and where to find us.

So there you have it: By 2020, Jesus Christ (or rather his dedicated followers) will have stripped us of not only the right to marry, but the vary right to live openly and freely in America. I know this seems harsh, but with the precedent of Proposition 8 being upheld, we have so much more to lose than we ever thought possible. Allowing the majority to dictate what rights are bestowed upon us will only end in more rights being taken away.

We do have one hope should Prop 8 be upheld today: Repeating what happened at the Stonewall Riots 40 years ago. We cannot sit idly by, hoping our rights will come to us. We must take to the streets and demand equality from the very constitutions written to protect minorities like us. I encourage all of you reading this article to visit www.dayofdecision.org and find your local event. If you live in the Indianapolis area, you can visit www.indyimpact.com to get specifics about Indy's Rally and where to fight for your own rights.

We have a chance today to show America that the gay community will not be quiet when our rights are taken away. We must give America "buyer's remorse," not only to those who voted for Proposition 8, but to any American voting for a ballot measure that takes away rights from a group of upstanding America citizens.

There's just one problem with IYG - and its not the youths' obsession with painting everything in rainbow colors (hey - It actually works for them!). More and more GLBT kids are coming out of the closet every day - and at younger ages. What was considered "young" back when I came out a decade ago at 15 pales in comparison to the growing number of pre-teens that walk out of the closet and through their door. As we fight to make sexual orientation and gender identity something in which to be proud instead of guilty, IYG is forced to deal with the consequences; they're flooded with youth seeking a place of acceptance that is still not possible at home or at school. Don't get me wrong - this is great that so many young members of society are wasting no time breaking down that closet door. But IYG needs help - your help - now more than ever!

More after the jump

Though I was only an "active" member of IYG for a few months, I have nothing but positive memories of my time at the IYG house. Having a chance to give back to a group that did so much for me and continues to do so much for countless others - it's a win-win situation for everyone involved when you volunteer for IYG.

At the start of April, a (very beautiful and young-looking) co-worker of mine proposed that our company's GLBT affinity group should start volunteering regularly at IYG. In no time at all, she had coordinated with the staff at IYG for members from our group to bring dinner/snacks to the youth once a month. Simple Enough... Once a month, one of us volunteers to deliver enough food to feed 5-20 people.

With the advent of GFS, even the most unsuccessful cook can become a gourmet chef for relatively little $$$. I brought dinner one night last month - spent approx $25-30 and was able to serve up a huge pan of lasagna and mac&cheese (for the vegetarians) with only a couple hours invested. Everyone talks about how it's the small things - well, this is one of those "small things" that will make a lot of people feel appreciated and loved. Our group has only hosted two dinners so far, but you'd be hard to find someone who would question their success.

For those of us in the group wanting to get more involved with IYG, such as volunteering to help out at the IYG house, providing supervision during events or hanging out with the youth during nightly Open Hours, a short training was offered by the staff at IYG. We were lucky enough to host two IYG staff last Friday to expedite our status as volunteers, but anyone can schedule an appointment for their own training by contacting the IYG office.

The training lasted about 90 minutes and went over some of their history and the major rules/guidelines we were expected to follow: such as not counseling the youth (leave that to the counselors) or ensuring there was no alcohol on our breath when at IYG - apparently the youth can smell it. Though some of them seemed more logical than others, their "rules to volunteer" are to ensure the most positive, constructive environment they can - making all the rules easy to follow and worthwhile. After a $15 background check and the training is complete, you'll be able to provide the most needed resource to IYG: a positive role-model for the queer youth of Indiana.

If chaperoning 10-20 teenagers or providing food once a month sounds like more than you can commit, IYG utilizes a large assortment of goods. They operate a food bank, so all non-perishable groceries are welcome, but please call IYG before bringing those 28 bottles of ketchup you couldn't afford not to buy at Costco last week (Some items they already have more than enough.) Since teens are notorious for short attention spans - donate that rusty Nintendo Wii or some gay/trans-positive movies. IYG also participates in the yearly Woodruff Place Neighborhood Rummage Sale - so they are always looking for gently used, big-ticket items that they can sell to raise money for more programs. Check out their wish list to see what you can help with.

Whatever it is - whether it's time, service, food, or even stuff you no longer want - IYG can put all of these things to use providing a safe place for all "queer" adolescents, even the straight ones. Just because we've won marriage equality in five states or you have a job that practically encourages you to be gay, it doesn't mean coming out at 14 is any easier. In order to continue fighting for our rights to provide true equality for all LGBT individuals - young and old - we need the younger generation to grow up happy and healthy. Show the youth of IYG that when we come together as a community, anything is possible.

Those interested in helping the the next generation of the greater Indianapolis GLBT community, please go to indianayouthgroup.org.

The reason why after the jump

Though I may not agree with how Perez handled the situation initially (calling her a "Stupid B***H"), since the Miss America Pageant, I have woken up every morning to multiple news stories about Miss California, Perez Hilton, and more specifically, Gay Marriage.

When Iowa, of all places, LEGALIZED gay marriage with a unanimous Supreme Court decision, there was nothing. CNN made an initial announcement, but completely ignored the story on air and online. True, there was a more sensational story happening in New York, but could no one see history was being made in the Midwest?

More headway was made with Vermont's veto win a few days later, but I don't remember Larry King moving any of his guests to cover this latest triumph in gay history. Yet, with one simple question (and one horrible answer), the only thing any of the major news networks can talk about is the major upset in the Miss America Pageant and how the "Gay Agenda," specifically the issue of marriage equality, cost Ms. Prejean the crown.

Perez could have taken the low road, continued to call Prejean a "Stupid B***h" and that would have been the end of it, but if you actually watch the large number of interviews Perez did after his little tirade, he became a true LGBT activist, if only for this week. He turned a situation that was specifically focused on himself (where I presume he usually likes it) and instead focused it on the larger issue - gay marriage. It was simple: How could anyone hope to be Miss America if she didn't embrace *all* Americans?

Here in Indiana - we struggle to receive any "gay" news from the media. If CNN or FoxNews doesn't report it, consider it lost to the everyday Hoosier. But for the past two days, my TiVo has been filling up with news casts around the clock devoted specifically to the argument that denying gays and lesbians the right to marriage is discrimination. We will always (at least for the time being) have to deal with the right-wing bigots and religious zealots who believe allowing gays to marry will bring the apocalypse, but in order to change that we need to open a dialogue, get people comfortable with talking about gay marriage - and that's no easy task here in the Heartland.

But if there is one thing the Lindsay Lohans and Britney Spears of the world have taught us, it's that celebrities get people talking no matter where in the country you live and everyone has an opinion about it. What a great time to butt into that conversation you are overhearing about how Miss California's crown was "stolen" and give them a lesson about how many rights you are denied simply because your partner is the same-sex.

So for that, I say, "Thank You Perez Hilton - From the Heart(land). We can all make an impact for equality - and I believe you just made yours."