Comments on Advance Indiana™: What's Wrong With Indiana Equality

FYI - my last name is Parker - thanks!!!

2006-06-08T00:36:00.000-05:00

FYI - my last name is Parker - thanks!!!

Yes--I don't see the problem as being with the oth...

2006-06-05T23:49:00.000-05:00

Yes--I don't see the problem as being with the other groups working together for a common cause. I see it as the way the umbrella organization, in this case IE, is being run that is the source of the problem. The greatest strength comes from the cooperative work of the other organizations

Thank you for your response. I understand what yo...

2006-06-05T18:51:00.000-05:00

Thank you for your response. I understand what you are saying. I do have a question though. As a member of Region 8, I have no political background. My main purpose of working for GLBT rights is to ensure equality and fairness for my son and other GLBT sons and daughters. I am coming into this with a bit of a different perspective. Not all of us are politically astute. Don't you think there is room for all of us?

Annette--the comments are not directed at Region 8...

2006-06-04T22:40:00.000-05:00

Annette--the comments are not directed at Region 8. You are correct, each group which participates in Region 8 selects its own representative to sit at the table in an advisory capacity. Region 8 is not the statewide organization, which is run by Ms. Sarris. Region 8 has no say in who those officers are. By the way--I sat on a committee with you to draw up Region 8's bylaws. I remember being appalled to sit down for one of those meetings and hear Bruce Clark and Jerame Davis announce in advance who the new Region 8 officers were going to be before there was any discussion or consultation with the full group. IE decided who was going to be Region 8's Chair, not Region 8. Bruce Clark had not even lived in the state of Indiana a year and was made a statewide officer. This is an insult to the entire GLBT community that someone with no ties to Indiana at all would be elevated in this fashion. The legislative co-chairs have absolutely no political experience. It's a little clique that's calling all the shots. I'm not going to play parlor gazmes which a bunch of political neophytes who have no business being in charge.

As a member of Region 8 and president of the India...

2006-06-04T22:17:00.000-05:00

As a member of Region 8 and president of the Indianapolis Chapter of PFLAG, I'd like to say a few things.

First, I, along with another PFLAG member, represent our organization at Region 8 board meetings. We were both chosen by our PFLAG chapter to represent our group. We DO NOT serve at the discretion of one person - we were chosen by our chapter to do so. My co-PFLAGer was also elected to chair a committee on Region 8. She was elected at an open election which was democratically run. In addition, she serves on the "main" IE board as our chapter's representative, again chosen by our PFLAG chapter.

Second, PFLAG worked WITH Indiana Equality to help pass the HRO. I don't know if PFLAG could have done this alone without the coalition. We were in constant contact with IE and we were never "forced" to do anything we didn't feel was appropriate. Believe me, we were never "controlled".

I know there are problems. Maybe I'm naive, but I hope that these issues can be laid out on the table and discussed. After all, IE is an umbrella organization - they can't exist without the various groups. The GLBT community and it's straight allies have enough to contend with - we all came together to fight a common enemy - not each other. I hope things can be worked out.

Oops. Make that lobbyist.

2006-06-04T17:42:00.000-05:00

Oops. Make that lobbyist.

Thanks for that info Kevin and my apologies to the...

2006-06-04T17:40:00.000-05:00

Thanks for that info Kevin and my apologies to the IE lobbyest.

Lori,In answer to one of your questions.....I rece...

2006-06-03T18:23:00.000-05:00

Lori,
In answer to one of your questions.....I received the list of contributors from both David & Susan and IE's lobbyist DID make financial contributions.

I think this dialog is constructive and addresses things that need to be addressed. The fact that these issues are even being challenged shows that finally the involvement and awareness level of the local GLBT community is probably higher than its ever been. Through all of this, new activists and new leaders are emerging.

Paula she is from Chicago originally. She worked i...

2006-06-03T11:26:00.000-05:00

Paula she is from Chicago originally. She worked in the administration of Gov. Bob Orr 20 years ago--not even close to being a big player according to people I know who were big players in that administration--although she thinks differently. She will tell people that Gov. Orr was the first to adopt a non-discrimination policy towards gays and lesbians--may have been true at an unofficial level--but nothing was ever formally adopted.

As for working for Miller or Clark or the Republicans, there are people who have speculated on that before. It's not the case, but it might as well be given the results.

Good question Paula. I have often wondered this my...

2006-06-03T09:20:00.000-05:00

Good question Paula. I have often wondered this myself.

OK. That was all helpful. Maybe it is "sour grap...

2006-06-03T09:01:00.000-05:00

OK. That was all helpful. Maybe it is "sour grapes" maybe it is the gospel truth. As an outsider, it is hard to tell, especially since I haven't heard the other side.

Tell me this, how did she get where she is, and why doesn't she see the damage she is doing (or does she just not care because her way is more important than what is good for all of us)? OR (puts tinfoil hat on) is she working for Micah and Eric?

Given the number of Don Quixotes who've tilted at ...

2006-06-03T05:27:00.000-05:00

Given the number of Don Quixotes who've tilted at this particular windmill, there are probably enough of us now to get together and do it at the same time.

Thank you for telling this story Gary. Many good a...

2006-06-02T20:59:00.000-05:00

Thank you for telling this story Gary. Many good and motivated GLBT activists have become disillusioned when they have to fight IE as well as our real opponents for equality. They leave the fight and the leaders that are harming us stay on. I didn't see any of the IE leaders at David and Susans fundraiser. I did however, see their paid lobbyist there. Did he leave a check for David or Susan (I was watching and never did see him donate) or was he there so he could report activities to the IE hierarchy? I suspect the latter. I like some of the people involved with IE on a personal level but their abilities will continue to be neutered until Her Highness steps down from the throne. To much is at stake for everyone to patiently wait for her departure. Kathy needs to go before the community is harmed further.

Troy--you mention Scott Keller and Kathy. The most...

2006-06-02T20:34:00.000-05:00

Troy--you mention Scott Keller and Kathy. The most disheatening thing I've experienced in all this is to sit at an IE fundraiser at Scott Keller's house and hear Keller and Jackie Nytes credit Kathy Sarris for everything that has ever happened in the State for the GLBT community. I listened as they credited her with things GIFA had done and she had actually opposed. She didn't do one damn thing to help us with the HRO and everyone at the Region 8 table knows it but is afraid to say so. I didn't include this info in my post, but Ms. Sarris has named Keller and Nytes co-chairs of the newly formed IE PAC. I think it is a complete outrage that she would name two politician to head the PAC. I guess no one from the GLBT community was good enough to serve this role. She knows I am superior in political knowledge and experience to her and every one of the stooges she leads around by the nose in that organization. She will do everything to keep someone like me, you or anyone else out of IE's hierarchy that she feels threatened by. I simply cannot deal with a group that is so grossly incompetent and is nothing short of being the laughing stock of the State House.

The "elephant in the room" is Kathy Sarris.

2006-06-02T20:28:00.000-05:00

The "elephant in the room" is Kathy Sarris.

Gary - AMEN, AMEN, and AMEN!You're correct that In...

2006-06-02T20:20:00.000-05:00

Gary - AMEN, AMEN, and AMEN!

You're correct that Indiana lags the nation in LGBT equality in every category. I give I.E.'s president credit for this, and all the blame to the LGBT community for letting her continue her evil ways.

I may sound like a naysayer, but I'll suggest that I've tried to work with her. I've tried to help I.E. be more open and successful, raise money, get involved politically ... but the answer has always been NO. I'm not sure why ... maybe I'm too much of a Democrat? A man? Someone who might offer a different idea or perspective?

In meetings I've had with I.E's president, she has either sat in the back of the room with her arms folded and said nothing (like "you'all don't know what you're talking about") or got mad and stormed out of the room when someone (me) actually disagreed with her.

I contacted I.E.'s lobbyist to throw a combo fundraiser for I.E. and the Stonewall Democrats when a gay New York assemblyman friend was in town and offered to help. I.E.'s lobbyist agreed and signed off on everything, invitations were sent ... and I.E.'s president raised holy hell that I.E. would EVER be associated with a Democrat organization. She demanded that I cease and desist ... Wow, that's great coalition building, eh?

When I was on Stonewall Democrats' board, I was at first adamantly opposed to ISD's involvement in anything she led. When we finally decided I.E. was the only coalition organization in town and we all needed to come together, we took I.E. up on the offer to be a part of their coalition. Wham bam ... I.E.'s president immediately reniged on the open offer. No negotiation. No compromise. NO "DEMOCRAT" ORGANIZATION ALLOWED. (That's why you don't see the Stonewall Democrats listed as a coaltion partner -- they have been denied participation. Yes, they're a part of the local Region 8, but the I.E. President won't let them at the big table.)

You may also remember City-County Council Member Karen Horseman's effort to bring domestic partner benefits to city and county employees. I.E.'s president ADAMANTLY opposed this effort because the idea wasn't on her personal agenda ... so much so that she didn't life one finger to help and worked on the campaign to defeat Karen in the next election (and thus we have Republican Scott Keller).

Who was the one and only State Representative to carry an LGBT anti-discrimination bill out of committee in the House? That would be my dad ... with ZERO help or support from Indiana Equality. And what did I.E. do to help him in the next election when the Republicans came after with some serious gay-baiting? ZERO. NADA. NOTHING ... and I assume that was purely spiteful on I.E.'s president's behalf. It is my thought that she prefers Republicans in the majority in the House so she can have more "double-secret clandestine meetings" with her Republican friends.

As you may remember, a group called "Justice" was the predecessor to Indiana Equality. It was the last statewide coaltion for LGBT issues. I.E. was started after Justice's president absolutely aliented everyone in the community and ran that organization in the ground. Now she's doing the same to Indiana Equality.

Paula--when the president handpicks the board and ...

2006-06-02T19:32:00.000-05:00

Paula--when the president handpicks the board and never has a meeting of the members to decide such matters, it's a little hard to oust her.

couldn't have said it better myself. Gary, welcome...

2006-06-02T19:31:00.000-05:00

couldn't have said it better myself. Gary, welcome to the land of lepers. Personally, I've given up on doing any kind of activism that's GLBT related in Indiana for just the reason you've stated. I was one of the original organizers with Pepper for the Rally, and you couldn't have put the facts out on that any better. About the only thing you left out was the blackmail tactics of the Chair. The only thing else I can add is AMEN!

Gary,Just a small pet peeve - Today's Republican P...

2006-06-02T19:24:00.000-05:00

Gary,
Just a small pet peeve - Today's Republican Party is not even remotely the "Party of Lincoln".

Also, if there is a board, and the woman in charge of IE is so hated, why not vote to oust her?

sorry - not in the "know" to get who "she" is, nor any other insider IE info, so questions are asked on face value of Gary's post.