Hoosier Daddy?

The New York Times reports that Evan Bayh seemed to turn a lost cause for Democrats into a sure win in Indiana when he decided to run for his old Senate seat, but the race is a lot closer than anticipated. Still, something tells me he's got the gay vote locked up.

The Crossroads of America?

Brilliant front page, Indianapolis Star! 

Despite Gov. Mike Pence's apparent desire to suddenly "fix" his state's disgusting new law by week's end, I haven't seen someone try so hard to have it both ways since Anne Heche got booked on Oprah with the new love of her life, Ellen DeGeneres. No one could be as dumb as this man is pretending to be. The nation's reaction to his feigned naivete has restored my faith in people, though.

The Washington Post Kindly Explains Why Indiana's Anti-Gay Law Is 'Such a Big Deal'

Answering five questions about Indiana’s new discrimination law

I pride myself on not being easily "offended," but I sure find the phrasing of this question in Paul Waldman's Washington Post Q-and-A about Indiana's new discrimination law to be unnecessarily flippant. I get that it's written from a layman's point of view -- not an LGBT activist -- but doesn't EVERYONE agree that something like "Are there any other reasons this has garnered so much attention" or "attracted so much scrutiny" would be more sensitive than saying "such a big deal?" The very notion that there needs to be "other reasons" is galling, too. A religious-freedom law -- unprecedented in its awfulness -- was enacted to TARGET certain people and make it legal to humiliate and rob them of their civil rights based on who they are. That's why it's SUCH A BIG DEAL -- for crying out loud! Do we need "other reasons"? Really awful. And this is from the so-called liberal media???

It's a just a law targeting fags, no biggie.

U.S. Appeals Court Overturns Utah's Ban on Gay Marriage -- and Indiana, Too! (UPDATE)

Yet another historic day for LGBT rights!

The L.A. Times reports:

In a decision coming from Utah, a federal appeals court on Wednesday for the first time backed gay marriage.

The Denver-based U.S. 10th Circuit Court of Appeals upheld a lower-court decision that struck down the state's bans on same-sex marriage.

The ruling, which was stayed, sets the stage for an appeal to the U.S. Supreme Court, which touched off the current round of legal fighting on the issue when it struck down parts of the federal Defense of Marriage Act last year. 

"We hold that the Fourteenth Amendment protects the fundamental right to marry, establish a family, raise children, and enjoy the full protection of a state’s marital laws," according to the decision posted on the court's website. "A state may not deny the issuance of a marriage license to two persons, or refuse to recognize their marriage, based solely upon the sex of the persons in the marriage union. 

"For the reasons stated in this opinion, we affirm."

Via NGLTF:

CONGRATULATIONS Indiana! We are delighted that same-sex couples in the the Hoosier State will now have the option of marriage. Marriage equality has clearly reached a critical mass and we can look forward to all Americans having the freedom to marry.

Help Defeat Indiana's Anti-LGBT Amendment

Indiana House Speaker Moves Gay Marriage Ban to Committee More Inclined to Advance It 

If you read Towleroad then you know there is a disgusting -- I'll call -- "Hail Mary" attempt at demeaning gay people going on in Indiana right now. A kind reader there wrote in asking me to also shine a light on the proposed anti-gay amendment, providing me with this summary of the vile state of affairs:

On Wednesday Jan. 22, 2014, the state of Indiana is set to vote on HJR-3, an amendment to the state constitution denying any and all protection to same-sex couples and their families. Recently, the amendment stalled, so in an effort to avoid the constitutional ban not passing the house, Republican House Speaker Brian Bosma moved the proposed ban to a new Judiciary Committee. It should come as no surprise the new committee includes more “conservative” lawmakers as well as one democrat who have agreed to support the ban. 

Conservative lawmakers in Indiana have taken the constitutional ban against gay marriage one step further and propose same sex partners cannot and should not receive employee provided domestic partner benefits. Several counties, universities, and city councils throughout the state have openly opposed the ban, yet the Republican controlled house continues to push forward. 

Despite public protest, civil rights and freedom are on the line. This country is in the midst of a new civil rights movement, one lacking a unified front. While great progress has been made, the majority of GLBT individuals are being stripped of their dignity and right to live as free and equal Americans. 

If you have a moment check out the Freedom Indiana page HERE. 

Let the state of Indiana know we may disagree on core beliefs and principles, but that does not give anyone the right to legislate bigotry. Your voice and time count. Let it be heard.

A rally is planned for tomorrow at the Statehouse at 3:30 p.m. Find what else you can do HERE.