Civil Rights Activists Turn Up The Heat On Bosma

A gaggle of lobbyists who attended House Speaker Brian Bosma's fundraiser at the Rathskellar Biergarten along Massachusetts Avenue were greeted by nearly a hundred protesting civil rights activists organized by the Indiana Action Network ("IAN"). Protestors carried signs and shouted "Shame", "Stop the Bigotry" and "Bosma's Gotta Go". Many passersby during the rush hour traffic on Michigan Avenue and New Jersey Street joined in the protest by honking their horns in support. IAN organized the protest in response to what it perceives as a "gross act of hypocrisy and injustice to our families" for Bosma to conduct his fundraiser in the heart of the area of the City revitalized, in large part, by the gay and lesbian community of Indianapolis.

Civil rights activists have been alarmed by the fervor with which House Speaker Bosma has pursued Eric Miller's and Advance America's bigoted agenda against gays and lesbians. In particular, IAN cites Bosma's dogged pursuit of SJR 7, an amendment to the Indiana Constitution which bans same sex marriages and civil unions. Bosma has in the past described the proposed amendment as "the most critical piece of the people’s business." A press release from IAN complained that "Bosma is apparently willing to promote gay-friendly Mass Ave as a flourishing tourist and business district while simultaneously advocating the curtailing of human rights for Mass Ave's inhabitants and their families."

The protest remained peaceful for the most part. Violence nearly erupted when an arriving guest attempted to snatch a camera out of the hands of one of the protestors. A scuffle ensued, but the protest organizers quickly extinguished what could have become a violent confrontation. Several of the arriving guests hurled insults at protestors, including an old favorite, "kiss my ass." Others guests looked for another entrance to avoid the protestors altogether, including Bosma. The east entrance to the Biergarten, which is typically open to the public, was barred shut by a 15-foot high wooden gate, walling off Bosma's guests from the protestors. Organizers ushered protestors to the east side wall of the Biergarten, who began shouting towards the corralled guests. An Indianapolis Police officer was dispatched to the scene but left a short time later when he saw that the protest was peaceful. Democrat State Representative David Orentlicher, a strong supporter of gay civil rights who represents a northside Indianapolis district, greeted the protestors and thanked them for their efforts.

IAN and those who gathered to support the protest should be applauded for their efforts. As the Speaker of the Indiana House of Representatives, Bosma is a leader of all the people, not just fundamentalist Christians. He has to understand and appreciate the consequences his pursuit of a fundamentalist Christian agenda has on people who don't prescribe to this agenda, in particular when it leads to the denial of fundamental rights guaranteed by our federal and state constiutions, such as the "separation of church and state" and "equal treatment under the law." I did not agree with the protestors who criticized the Rathskellar for permitting its facilities to be used for Bosma's campaign. The Raskellar management has been extremely friendly to Indianapolis' gay community. It has hosted many gay friendly events over the years, including a gay friendly concert this past Saturday evening at the conclusion of Indy Pride Fest. The Raskerllar should be open to the entire Indianapolis community, not just those with whom we agree politically. It is unfair to criticize a business which has played such an important role in the revitalization of Massachusetts Avenue for all Indianapolis residents to enjoy.

The mainstream media largely ignored the large protest so well-organized by IAN. Only WISH-TV showed up to cover the event among the area television stations. WIBC News ignored the event as it did Indy Pride Fest. A reporter for Intake magazine was on the scene interviewing protestors. Bosma, who never appeared in view of the protestors, appeared for an interview with WISH-TV outside the Raskerllar at the conclusion of his fundraiser. Bosma complained that the protestors were "too aggressive," and that they were attempting to "segregate Massachusetts Avenue" from the rest of the community. He said that he and his friends often frequent businesses along Massachusetts Avenue. Judging from Bosma's reaction I think he really missed the point of the protest. For the sake of us all, I do hope that Speaker Bosma will grow to appreciate that by pursuing a political agenda using "wedge" issues like gay marriage bans for political gain, he is the one segregating us as a society. If he is truly interested in a fully integrated society, then he should look for ways of uniting us rather than dividing us.