Indiana clergy to rally for equal treatment for gays

Members of the Interfaith Coalition on Nondiscrimination plan to rally in the Statehouse to support legislation that will prohibit discrimination against gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender people in the workplace. At 12:30 p.m. today in the north atrium, ICON will unveil a letter signed by more than 150 clergymen and women who believe that discrimination in any form is wrong.\nRev. Jeff Miner, the chair of ICON, believes that the religious community in Indiana is misunderstood.\n"Indiana's legislators think that people of faith oppose fair treatment of gay and transgendered people," he said in a press release. "We're changing that perception."\nIn addition to unveiling the letter, ICON will also include a visual display illustrating where the support for the cause comes from. As each signature is read, a dove, cross or Star of David will be placed on a map of Indiana, marking where each clergy member is from. \n"Some may be surprised," Miner said. "Indiana is covered from corner to corner with religious leaders who strongly oppose discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation and gender identity."\nDoug Bauder, Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual and Transgender Student Support Services coordinator, said the move by ICON is a welcome one.\n"We are continually aware that there is discrimination around us," he said. "I know of people who have been fired due to their sexual orientation, so this is an issue."\nBauder noted that the support from the religious community is welcome from the gay community.\n"Many gay, lesbian and transgendered people feel that they have no support within the traditional faith communities in which they were raised," he said. "However, religious leaders are looking at different sexual orientations in other ways."\nJohn Krull, executive director of the Indiana Civil Liberties Union, said the ICON action is a welcome event.\n"The ICLU is against discrimination in all forms, from race and handicap to sexual orientation," he said. "And we encourage the ICON action. The ICLU encourages all citizens to engage the government to institute change."\nKrull warned that the change will not happen overnight.\n"Lobbying and trying to affect state policy takes time," he said. "This action is only a first step to instituting change."\nBut change appears to be what Hoosiers want. A study conducted by the IU Center for Survey Research found that 89 percent of Hoosiers are in favor of equal treatment of gays in the workplace. \nRev. Judith Carlson, a member of the ICON steering committee, said she feels that time is imminent.\n"Momentum is on our side," she said in a press release. "Now is the right time to encourage Indiana's legislators to protect the basic civil rights of gay and transgendered people."\nThe ICON press release praised Gov. Frank O'Bannon's office for incorporating sexual orientation in its nondiscrimination policy. It also noted that leading Indiana employers like Anthem, Cummins Engine, Lincoln National and Eli Lilly are prohibiting sexual discrimination. \nICON encourages all to attend the peaceful protest.