Living: March 2007
We need you NOW!
Filed by Bil Browning | March 31, 2007 | 2:51 PM |[UPDATE FROM THE AVA WEBSITE:] This fundraising appeal has been suspended. Attorneys for the AVA have raised concerns over whether this activity would jeopardize our 501(c)(3) status since this could be considered political lobbying. We are continuing to work with...Read More
Emmis Communication joins companies opposing SJR-7
Filed by Bil Browning | March 30, 2007 | 5:46 PM |Another big announcement on the SJR-7 front! Today Emmis Communications announced their opposition to SJR-7, the proposed constitutional amendment to ban same-sex marriage and civil unions. Emmis joins Cummins Engine, Wellpoint, Dow AgroSciences, and Eli Lilly in pointing out the...Read More
Call Me a Worry-wort
Filed by Sheila S. Kennedy | March 30, 2007 | 5:31 PM |My first experience with gay rights activism in Indianapolis was in 1992. I had just become the Executive Director of the Indiana ACLU. There were wonderful, committed people working for the community, at the legislature and with the media, but...Read More
Open Thread
Filed by Alex Blaze | March 30, 2007 | 9:30 AM |For the past two days I've been asking you all pretty cliche questions (Who do you support of the presidential nominees on the Democratic/Republican side?) to try to get some good debates going in the comments only to get the...Read More
SJR-7: Gary Bauer and the Concerned Women for America: An Inconvenient Truth
Filed by Don Sherfick | March 30, 2007 | 8:27 AM |If you want more proof that Senator Brandt Hershman and other proponents of SJR-7 aren't being totally upfront when they claim it would still allow the General Assembly to enact civil unions and make laws bestowing similar benefits, all you...Read More
The Pro-Cancer forces at the statehouse
Filed by Jen Jorczak | March 29, 2007 | 5:35 PM |As if you needed any more proof that certain members of the Indiana General Assembly are truly anti-sex, seven of our favorite Representatives today offered no less than twelve inane amendments to Senate Bill 327. Senate Bill 327, if you...Read More
The Pro-Cancer forces at the statehouse
Filed by Jen Jorczak | March 29, 2007 | 5:35 PM |As if you needed any more proof that certain members of the Indiana General Assembly are truly anti-sex, seven of our favorite Representatives today offered no less than twelve inane amendments to Senate Bill 327. Senate Bill 327, if you...Read More
Profiles in Cowardice - Rep. Milo Smith
Filed by Jerame Davis | March 29, 2007 | 5:08 PM |Today's profile is on Rep. Milo Smith (R - Columbus). It's appropriate to point out here that Smith represents my home town and most of my family lives in his district - House District 59. Recently, Mr. Smith was quoted...Read More
Profiles in Cowardice - Rep. Milo Smith
Filed by Jerame Davis | March 29, 2007 | 5:08 PM |Today's profile is on Rep. Milo Smith (R - Columbus). It's appropriate to point out here that Smith represents my home town and most of my family lives in his district - House District 59. Recently, Mr. Smith was quoted...Read More
130 clergy members mad as hell over SJR-7
Filed by Bil Browning | March 29, 2007 | 4:19 PM |Yesterday's e-mail brought a welcome press release from the Interfaith Coalition on Nondiscrimination (ICON) announcing a letter the organization just sent to the General Assembly. The letter, signed by 130 "Indiana clergy, leaders of faith communities, and other religious professionals,"...Read More
130 clergy members mad as hell over SJR-7
Filed by Bil Browning | March 29, 2007 | 4:19 PM |Yesterday's e-mail brought a welcome press release from the Interfaith Coalition on Nondiscrimination (ICON) announcing a letter the organization just sent to the General Assembly. The letter, signed by 130 "Indiana clergy, leaders of faith communities, and other religious professionals,"...Read More
Interesting tidbits from the latest Star article on SJR-7
Filed by Bil Browning | March 29, 2007 | 11:18 AM |This morning's Star has an article on SJR-7 that has some points I wanted to pick up and comment on. The piece focuses on Lilly's opposition to the proposed amendment, but some of the sections stood out to me. (All...Read More
Open Thread
Filed by Alex Blaze | March 29, 2007 | 10:48 AM |OK, as a continuation of yesterday's question, if you knew for certain that the Democratic nominee would be president, who would you support during the primary?...Read More
The Colts put out a statement on Dungy controversy
Filed by Bil Browning | March 28, 2007 | 1:53 PM |The Colts released a statement yesterday in response to Coach Dungy's appearance at the Indiana Family Institute's banquet and the controversy that has arisen because of it. I actually think it's a pretty darn good statement. While they defend Dungy's...Read More
Open Thread
Filed by Alex Blaze | March 28, 2007 | 8:54 AM |If you knew for certain that the Republican candidate for president would win the general election, who would you support in the primary right now?...Read More
Lawrence school board promotes tolerance
Filed by Bil Browning | March 28, 2007 | 12:06 AM |Sources say that the Lawrence Township school district approved adding sexual orientation and gender identity to the non-discrimination policies. The vote was unanimous. While only a few people spoke against the policy, several testified in favor. I couldn't find anything...Read More
Lawrence school board promotes tolerance
Filed by Bil Browning | March 28, 2007 | 12:06 AM |Sources say that the Lawrence Township school district approved adding sexual orientation and gender identity to the non-discrimination policies. The vote was unanimous. While only a few people spoke against the policy, several testified in favor. I couldn't find anything...Read More
Soulforcers arrested in Louisville
Filed by Alex Blaze | March 27, 2007 | 12:41 PM |Remember Albert Mohler? The leader of the Southern Baptist Theological Seminary who supported eugenics of queer people about a month ago? Yeah, well, apparently calling yourself Christian and calling for genocide isn't the way to get on Soulforce's good side....Read More
Open thread
Filed by Alex Blaze | March 27, 2007 | 8:03 AM |I've been looking to find queer blogs from France, Canada, Britain, Mexico, Argentina, Spain, and Australia to follow, to keep up with the news. I googled for about an hour and I've decided to put it off for a while...Read More
Tomorrow The Family Circus will just be a blockquote from MyDD
Filed by Alex Blaze | March 26, 2007 | 10:47 PM |I had to share this with you all. Apparently what passes for a "comic" these days is linking to a blog. Like Ed Tinsley, creator of Mallard Fillmore and Hoosier, has just given up on any facade of doing...Read More
Open thread
Filed by Alex Blaze | March 26, 2007 | 11:49 AM |How did you spend this first weekend of spring?...Read More
Tony Dungy and the whole shebang
Filed by Bil Browning | March 23, 2007 | 6:29 PM |So I have to admit, I've never seen this much attention paid to bilerico.com as I have over the Tony Dungy/Indiana Family Institute story. From the Associated Press to Sports Illustrated, from Pam's House Blend to Stampede Blue (a Colts...Read More
Friday Open Thread
Filed by Alex Blaze | March 23, 2007 | 9:53 AM |Thinking of questions that people will like is hard. So the question today is: What sorts of questions would you all like to discuss? Culture, Indiana politics, national politics, personal information, science, history, anything? Any ideas for the question of...Read More
SJR-7: A well conducted hearing
Filed by Don Sherfick | March 23, 2007 | 8:20 AM |Before much more time passes, I wanted to note for the record my appreciation for the manner in which House Rules and Legislative Policy Committee Chairman Scott Pelath (D-Michigan City) conducted the hearing on SJR-7 last Wednesday. There had been...Read More
Quote of the day
Filed by Ed Team | March 23, 2007 | 6:43 AM |The following is the testimony by Professor Keith Bowman of Purdue University before the House committee hearing on SJR-7. Keith is a regular bilerico reader and we're all very proud of him for his excellent testimony and his strength under...Read More
Curiouser and Curiouser...
Filed by Carrie Wooten | March 22, 2007 | 10:15 PM |With the discovery and subsequent identification of Wade Steffey's body on Monday in a Purdue dormitory's high-voltage utility room, rumors and speculation have erupted on campus with many believing there is more than meets the eye with Wade's death. Wade...Read More
Ask God
Filed by Michele O'Mara | March 22, 2007 | 10:00 PM |Q. why do you think gays should be in heaven? if you are not living your life according to god why should you enter?in the bible it says a man onto a woman also didnt god destroy sodom and gomarah...Read More
Michael Savage: "You know, I'm sick" and Open Thread
Filed by Alex Blaze | March 22, 2007 | 1:25 PM |Oh, we all knew, Michael. Check out the whole thing at the Blend. So, question: Does Michael Savage suck or does he suck majorly? Discuss....Read More
Let's play catch up
Filed by Bil Browning | March 21, 2007 | 6:58 PM |So today has been one hectic day, eh? First there was the Tony Dungy story. While most of us fully expected Coach Dungy to steer clear of any political landmines, the coach threw himself into the fray with glee. Even...Read More
Apologies all around... and Open Thread
Filed by Alex Blaze | March 21, 2007 | 8:13 AM |My apologies, mentioned in the title of this post, because I can't help but laugh at this. It's just so over-the-top that I find it funny. Sorry! Because it really isn't funny at all - these folks are serious....Read More
Dungy "embraces" homophobia
Filed by Bil Browning | March 21, 2007 | 7:10 AM |At last night's Indiana Family Institute dinner, Colts coach Tony Dungy announced his support of SJR-7 and his belief in the superiority of heterosexual marriage. Reporter Bobby King called shortly after the dinner for a quote and I provided one...Read More
Dungy "embraces" homophobia
Filed by Bil Browning | March 21, 2007 | 7:10 AM |At last night's Indiana Family Institute dinner, Colts coach Tony Dungy announced his support of SJR-7 and his belief in the superiority of heterosexual marriage. Reporter Bobby King called shortly after the dinner for a quote and I provided one...Read More
Woodlan High School principal further retaliates against school paper
Filed by Alex Blaze | March 20, 2007 | 11:38 PM |Man, oh, man. Remember that school newspaper advisor, Amy Sorrell, at Woodlan High school who was reprimanded for allowing an opinion piece to be published that said it was OK to be gay? Well, she's in more trouble now. She's...Read More
The story that never dies
Filed by Jerame Davis | March 20, 2007 | 10:28 PM |Tonight was the Indiana Family Institute banquet/fundraiser and Indianapolis Colts coach Tony Dungy was the guest of honor. (For those who've been under a rock for the past couple of months, go here here or here for background on this...Read More
The story that never dies
Filed by Jerame Davis | March 20, 2007 | 10:28 PM |Tonight was the Indiana Family Institute banquet/fundraiser and Indianapolis Colts coach Tony Dungy was the guest of honor. (For those who've been under a rock for the past couple of months, go here here or here for background on this...Read More
Guest post by Anita Brown
Filed by Guest Blogger | March 20, 2007 | 3:17 PM |The following is a guest post by Anita Brown, a Ball State student and community organizer. If you can assist Anita, please send her an e-mail. Members of GLBT Collegiate Community: I am a graduate of Ball State University and...Read More
WTF?!?!?
Filed by Bil Browning | March 20, 2007 | 6:57 AM |I don't think I really need to say anything about this one. It speaks for itself. Consider this today's open thread. Whattaya think? Naked middle school principal found with sex toys watching gay porn in office (when arrested for dealing...Read More
Remember our youth
Filed by Bil Browning | March 18, 2007 | 9:32 AM |It's hard enough to be a kid. Sometimes we get all caught up in politics and pointing out the homophobia and bigotry of our fellow citizens and we forget what it's like to grow up wondering what the hell...Read More
Laura sends her love
Filed by Bil Browning | March 14, 2007 | 8:38 PM |After last week's terrific Nuvo article focusing on Eric Miller, author Laura McPhee took considerable heat for not crediting Advance Indiana's Gary Welsh for a lot of the research and blogging he's done on the topic. While AI focuses on...Read More
IPS/Lawrence Township schools support diversity
Filed by Bil Browning | March 12, 2007 | 4:04 PM |Today's Indianapolis Star has a story about Indianapolis Public Schools and Lawrence Township Schools. With all the negative publicity some local schools have been getting, it's nice to see a pin-point of light. What are these two districts doing? They're...Read More
A one woman machine!
Filed by Bil Browning | March 12, 2007 | 2:16 PM |Annette Gross, president of Indy PFLAG and a former bilerico contributor, rocks! She is truly an inspiration to me - and I thought I'd share why... I spoke at the PFLAG meeting yesterday afternoon where Annette spent several hours preparing...Read More
Say it ain't so!
Filed by Alex Blaze | March 12, 2007 | 10:17 AM |The governor of Utah announced that he'll sign that toxic anti-GSA bill into law. (I may have mentioned it here, here, and here.) I'm really trying to understand the point of this. We know we have a group of kids...Read More
Einstein's brain, DP benefits, tiny robots, Hershman and SJR-7...what a mix!
Filed by Don Sherfick | March 12, 2007 | 8:30 AM |Anytime I hear the term "brain drain" the one in my own cranial cavity conjures up Albert Einstein. After his demise in 1955, his superintelligent topper was preserved while the rest of him became ashes. It was the subject of...Read More
Soulforce Equality Riders arrested at Notre Dame
Filed by Alex Blaze | March 11, 2007 | 1:13 PM |Friday night, several of the Equality Riders went on the Notre Dame campus to place a wreath of flowers on the memorial of a gay Notre Dame alum who served in the navy. They were joined by two Notre Dame...Read More
Indy Star trips over own feet: Finds Dungy story
Filed by Bil Browning | March 10, 2007 | 10:11 AM |Well, whattaya know? The Indianapolis Star has realized that there is a story in the whole Tony Dungy controversy - a month and a half after everyone else did. You can tell that they're taking it seriously though - after...Read More
Indiana welcomes the Soulforce Equality Riders
Filed by Alex Blaze | March 08, 2007 | 11:31 PM |From their press release:As the Riders on the eastbound bus were meeting with students and administrators on the Dordt College campus, the Riders on the westbound bus were supporting gay students at Notre Dame who attempted to speak publicly about...Read More
No gay club for you!
Filed by Alex Blaze | March 07, 2007 | 10:20 PM |More on the Utah anti-GSA bill from Utah County's Daily-Herald:"This is really broad policy," said Carol Lear, director of school law and legislation for the Utah Office of Education. "To write this -- the seventh iteration of a bill --...Read More
A few things
Filed by Bil Browning | March 07, 2007 | 3:45 PM |I'm down and out with a nasty case of Indiana crud... To tide you over and still get the info out there, I'm going to give you a roundup of some times that have come out locally. Enjoy. I'll be...Read More
The News-Sentinel hit piece on a high school sophomore
Filed by Alex Blaze | March 02, 2007 | 9:19 AM |There's just so much wrong with this. The Fort Wayne News-Sentinel has published a column that shows that some high school students are way more advanced than their surrounding community of adults. Remember that high school editorial that said it...Read More
