INDIANAPOLIS – Republican Governor Eric Holcomb signed House Bill 1608 into law on Thursday, legislation that would ban conversation about LGBTQ+ families in schools and outs transgender students to their parents.

HB 1608 bans conversation about “human sexuality,” an undefined term and would broadly censor discussions about sexual orientation and gender identity in pre-K through third grade.  

HB 1608 would also force teachers to out students who request to be referred to by a different name or pronoun, by sending a note home to parents. Studies show that youth who are transgender face a real risk of rejection by the adults who are supposed to care for them when they disclose their gender identity.

Last month, the governor signed Senate Bill 480, a bill banning gender-affirming care for trans minors that would also require young people already receiving such care to detransition. The American Civil Liberties Union and the ACLU of Indiana announced that they filed a lawsuit challenging the law.

In a statement, Katie Blair, ACLU of Indiana advocacy and public policy director issued said:

“The Indiana legislators behind HB 1608, and the Slate of Hate, have had one goal all along, to use our laws to control what youth can and cannot read, what they can and cannot learn, and—most troublingly— who they can and cannot be.  

“Not every child can be their true selves at home without risking their physical or emotional well-being. For trans youth, especially those who cannot be safe at home, school may be one of the few places to be themselves. Trans youth thrive when they are affirmed in their gender identity, which includes being called by a name and pronouns that reflect who they are. 

LGBTQ students exist at all ages and in all grade levels and their stories belong in Indiana schools. Our schools should protect all students—including LGBTQ students—so they can learn and thrive in a safe environment. ACLU of Indiana attorneys are assessing this law and will do everything in our power to protect the rights of LGBTQ students.” 

Sarah Warbelow, the Human Rights Campaign Legal Director said:

“Governor Holcomb’s decision to sign this bill into law is a blatant attack on the well being of LGBTQ+ youth . Radical politicians are choosing to neglect the well-researched consensus of the American medical establishment, which confirms that ‘conversion therapy’ is dangerous and abusive. Allowing ‘conversion therapy’ to continue in Indiana will have devastating effects on vulnerable members of our community, and we will not stand idly by while the state of Indiana tells LGBTQ+ people that their lives and well-being are not worth protecting.”

INDIANAPOLIS – Legislation that would effectively ban discussion or acknowledgement of LGBTQ+ people in classrooms under the guise of banning conversations around “human sexuality,” is on its way to Republican Governor Eric J. Holcomb‘s desk.

HB 1608 effectively bans any mention of LGBTQ people in grades PreK-3. The bill would also require teachers to out trans gender or queer students who request to be referred to by a different name or pronoun, by sending a note home to parents.

The bill is one of six anti-LGBTQ+ measures being considered by Indiana lawmakers, which include:

SB 480 bans essential medical care for trans youth.

SB 12 censors books in schools, opening librarians and teachers up to felony prosecution. These bills have historically been used to ban books related to LGBTQ topics.

HB 1569 denies access to gender-affirming care for people housed in the Department of Corrections.

HB 1407 makes it illegal for child services to consider failure to provide a safe and affirming environment to a trans youth when looking into abusive home environments.

INDIANAPOLIS – The Indiana Court of Appeals has upheld a lower court’s decision to remove a transgender child from the parents’ custody due to allegations of abuse and their refusal to support the teen’s gender identity.

This past Friday, the Court of Appeals published a 28-page ruling in the case of: In the Matter of A.C. (Minor Child), Child in Need of Services, and M.C. (Mother) and J.C. (Father) v. Indiana Department of Child Services,  which clarifies that the parents’ freedom of speech/religious beliefs do not trump the child’s medical and/or psychological needs.

The mother and father claimed their status as “christians,” free speech and religious rights, were infringed upon when the lower court intervened.

The Indiana Lawyer reported the case started in May 2021, when the Department of Child Services received a report alleging that mother M.C. was verbally and emotionally abusing her 16-year-old child, A.C., by using rude and demeaning language regarding the teen’s transgender identity. As a result, A.C. had thoughts of self-harm.

A second report was filed and a week after the second report, DCS filed a proposed child in need of services petition in the Madison Circuit Court, alleging A.C. was a CHINS on two bases: A.C.’s physical or mental condition was seriously impaired or seriously endangered due to the parents’ neglect and/or A.C.’s physical or mental health was seriously endangered due to injury by the parents’ acts or omissions.

Following a hearing, the court issued an initial/detention order finding that it was in A.C.’s best interest to be removed from the home due to the parents’ “inability, refusal or neglect to provide shelter, care, and/or supervision at the present time.”

Later during the court process, The Indiana Lawyer reported:

At the close of a subsequent dispositional hearing, the court informed the parties that it would leave in place its earlier order prohibiting the parents from discussing the child’s transgender identity during visitation, but confirmed that it could be discussed at family therapy and that the court would reconsider the order when it could be safely discussed outside of therapy.

The trial court entered its dispositional order in which it found A.C. needed services and therapy, in which the parents were ordered to participate. The court also ordered that A.C. would remain in the current home or placement with DCS supervision.

On appeal, the parents argued the dispositional order and the trial court’s prior order on the combined initial and detention hearing were clearly erroneous. They also argued both orders violated their constitutional rights to the care, custody and control of A.C., the free exercise of religion and freedom of speech.

SOUTH BEND, In. – A Pride Month children’s Rainbow Story Hour event at the St. Joseph County Public Library’s Virginia M. Tutt Branch on Monday was disrupted after the far-right anti-LGBTQ+ group, the Proud Boys, walked in and began loudly arguing with staff and library patrons.

 At one point during the confrontation, one of the group unfurled a flag reading “Michiana Proud Boys,” appearing to identify the men as a local chapter of the white nationalist hate group.

This latest incident follows Proud Boys targeting LGBTQ+ Pride month events- especially Drag Queen Story Hour events- in Sparks Nevada, Wilmington North Carolina, Alameda California, Boise Idaho, many promulgated by highly influential far-right social media stars like Chaya Raichik, the Brooklyn real estate agent behind @LibsOfTikTok who has highlighted these events she calls out as inappropriate and sexualizing children to her more than 1.3 million followers on Twitter.

South Bend’s NPR outlet WVPE reported that the event was a partnership between the library and TREES, a Michiana organization that provides resources for the local transgender community and operates the Tree House Gender Resource center in downtown South Bend.

But before the event was set to start, seven men — all Proud Boys — entered the library and began arguing with staff and patrons. Several displayed white supremacist symbols, according to photos posted on social media.

Police were called — and the group left after about 40 minutes — but they caused so much disruption that the event had to be canceled.

“This definitely came as a shock,” library system communications manager Marissa Gebhard told WVPE. “We were not anticipating any problems.”

The library plans to reschedule the event in a few months, and Gebhard said the system wants everyone to feel safe and welcome at its branches.

The Proud Boys recognized one person because Purple for Parents (a local hate group focused on schools) had doxxed her before.

This disruption is extremely concerning because it seems to be a part of coordinated disruptions of similar events across the country. 2/4 pic.twitter.com/QumqYn4Bxd

— Indiana Mutual Aid Coalition (@INMutualAid) June 28, 2022

INDIANAPOLIS – The Indiana Legislature voted Tuesday to overturn Republican Governor Eric Holcomb’s March veto of HB 1041, a measure that bans transgender girls from competing on girls’ K-12 sports teams in the state.

The vote to override the veto means that this law makes Indiana the 8th state to ban trans youth from playing sports in 2022 by legislative action — and the 16th in the country.

“Governor Holcomb was the second governor this year to uphold the dignity of transgender and nonbinary youth, and veto an attempt by lawmakers to write them out of existence. While those young people continue to face unrelenting political attacks, the Indiana legislature voted to override his act of courage and compassion, pushing these marginalized youth even further to the sidelines,” said Sam Ames, Director of Advocacy and Government Affairs at The Trevor Project.

“This bill claimed to solve a problem of ‘fairness’ in school sports in Indiana that didn’t exist, but its negative impacts on the mental health and well-being of trans and nonbinary youth — young people who already face disproportionate rates of bullying, depression, and suicide — are very real. To the young people in Indiana watching tonight: you are stronger than they know. We are here for you, we will fight for you, and we are not going anywhere.”

In his veto message sent to House Speaker Todd Huston’s office, Holcomb said the bill presumed a problem already existed that required the state to intervene and it implied the goals of consistency and fairness in girls’ sports were not being met.

“After thorough review, I find no evidence to support either claim even if I support the overall goal,” Holcomb wrote.

The Trevor Project’s 2022 National Survey on LGBTQ Youth Mental Health found that more than half (53%) of transgender and nonbinary youth seriously considered suicide in the past year, and nearly 1 in 5 attempted suicide. 71% of transgender and nonbinary youth reported that they have experienced discrimination based on their gender identity, and those who have reported significantly higher rates of attempting suicide in the past year compared to those who have not. Further, 83% of transgender and nonbinary youth said that they have worried about transgender people being denied the ability to play sports due to state or local laws.

INDIANAPOLIS — On Tuesday, the Indiana Senate for passing HB 1041, which would restrict transgender women and girls from playing on school sports teams that correspond with their gender identity.

The Republican-backed bill passed on a 32-18 vote and now heads to Indiana Governor Eric J. Holcomb, also a Republican, who told multiple Indiana media outlets last week that he would review the bill’s final version before making a decision. However, Holcomb has previously publicly stated he “adamantly” agrees that “girls should be playing girls sports,” referring to a person’s sex at birth.

 “I agree adamantly that boys should be playing boys’ sports and girls should be playing girls’ sports,” The Indianapolis Star  reported also noting that the governor did not clarify if it was his viewpoint that trans girls are to be considered girls. The Star added in its reporting that Holcomb said he’d have to see the final language of the bill before deciding if he would sign it. However, critics pointed out thar the bill’s language hasn’t changed since the January 27 House vote.

“This bill is not solving any actual problem in Indiana, but it is causing harm to actual trans youth in Indiana,” said Sam Ames, Director of Advocacy and Government Affairs at The Trevor Project. “This has been a tough week in an already tough month in an already tough year for trans youth across the United States. Lawmakers must take into account the devastating impact that these bills themselves – and the ugly debates surrounding them – are having on a group of young people already at disproportionate risk for bullying and suicide. We urge the governor to reject this bill and focus on any number of the real issues impacting Indiana.”

The bill states, “A male, based on a student’s biological sex at birth in accordance with the student’s genetics and reproductive biology, may not participate on an athletic team or sport designated under this section as being a female, women’s, or girls’ athletic team or sport.”

“The Indiana legislature has voted to discriminate against trans youth, passing HB 1041, despite hearing hours of testimony from Hoosiers opposing this legislation and receiving tens of thousands of calls and emails. This bill singles out trans girls, jeopardizing their mental health, physical well-being and ability to access educational opportunities comparable to their peers,” Katie Blair the ACLU of Indiana Advocacy & Public Policy Director, noted.

“In Indiana, three in four trans youth will be harassed and bullied in school for being trans. By passing this bill, Indiana legislators have exposed trans kids to additional exclusion and mistreatment. This legislation is hateful, harmful, and appears to violate federal law and the Constitution. Courts have blocked similar laws from going into effect in several other states. We won’t stop fighting for an Indiana where trans youth are loved and treated equally,”  Blair added.

It applies to public schools and any private school that competes with public schools. It does not apply to transgender boys or to collegiate sports. It allows for students and parents to file grievances or civil lawsuits for violation.

INDIANAPOLIS – Lawmakers in Indiana’s House voted Thursday to advance a bill that would ban Trans women and girls from participating in K-12 school sports that align with their gender identity. 

House Bill 1041, which passed the Republican-dominated House by a 66-30 vote, takes aim at Trans women and girls but does not prevent trans men from playing on men’s sports teams. 

Initially, the bill would have also banned trans women from playing sports at a collegiate level, but a Monday amendment took out language regarding post-secondary institutions. 

The legislation now heads to the state Senate, which is also controlled by conservatives. 

The bill cleared the House Thursday, even as Democratic lawmakers and LGBTQ+ advocates in the state denounced the measure as unconstitutional and transphobic. 

“This bill is not only unconstitutional, it sends a cruel message to vulnerable trans kids that they are not welcome or accepted in their communities,” tweeted the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) of Indiana, adding that it “will continue to fight every day to ensure this discriminatory ban never sees the light of day.”

Indiana Democrats made similar arguments during Thursday’s brief debate on the bill, adding that the Indiana High School Athletic Association already has a policy in place surrounding trans participation in sports. The rules require that Trans girls complete “a minimum of one year of hormone treatment related to gender transition” or undergo “a medically confirmed gender reassignment procedure.”

“When we pass laws on issues like this, we are usually trying to put an end to discrimination,” said state Rep. Tonya Pfaff (D-43). “This law puts discrimination into Indiana law.”

State Rep. Matt Pierce (D-61) contended that the proposal was a waste of time and that Republicans were hypocritical for believing in small government and introducing this legislation. “Well, what are you doing with this bill?” he asked his colleagues. 

Proponents of the bill argue it is about “protecting” the integrity in women’s sports, seeing Trans people as having an “unfair” advantage over cisgender peers. 

“I know from experience that female athletes deserve fair competition and an even playing field, and this bill ensures just that — a fair opportunity,” said state Rep. Michelle Davis (R-58), who authored the legislation. 

The Associated Press reported that Senate President Pro Tem Rodric Bray (R-37) said Republican senators hadn’t yet discussed whether they would take up the House proposal. 

“It’s a fairness for young ladies who are trying to compete and, at least to some folks, it doesn’t feel fair if you allow somebody who at least started out as a male to go in and compete with them in the same sport, so that’s an issue that has some folks’ interest over here,” he said.

If passed, Indiana would become the 11th state in the country to ban Trans students from playing sports in accordance with their gender identity. However, the Movement Advancement project notes that temporary injunctions block enforcement of such bans in two states: Idaho and West Virginia. 

The ACLU of Indiana has maintained that it will file a lawsuit if the bill is signed into law.

INDIANAPOLIS – A shooting this past Sunday has left the Trans community in Indiana’s capital city in mourning after Ke’Yahonna Stone died Tuesday at a local hospital. The 32-year-old was shot in the head as she attempted to break-up a fight at a northeast-side nightclub.

Stone, who was employed by the Trans Solutions Research & Resource Center, a Black Trans led research and social service agency in Indianapolis, was out at the Epic Ultra Lounge nightclub in the Castle Run Shopping Center when in the early morning hours a fight broke out.

According to witness accounts and Indianapolis police investigators Stone was trying to defuse the fight that was going on when shots rang out and one bullet struck her in the head. The circumstances leading up to the shooting according to police are not clear at this point in the investigation.

Marissa Miller,  founder of the Trans Solutions Research & Resource Center told WISH CW8 News; “[…] the community is hurting. Ke’Yahonna was loved by the community,” Miller said, “And the community is hurting. Some in the community were standing right there. It wasn’t they got the call they were the call.”

WISH reported that the Marion County Coroner’s Office deadnamed Stone but acknowledged in an email to the news media, “The mother would like for her to be acknowledged as Ke’Yahonna Renee Stone.”

The Human Rights Campaign reported in November that 2021 has been the deadliest year on record for recorded violence against the Trans community especially Black and Latinx.

The Indianapolis Police Department continues to investigate the shooting and are asking anyone with information to contact them.

Contact Detective Michael Write at (317) 327-3475 or [email protected].