Tag: Indiana

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Indiana Gov. Mike Pence Can’t Answer Simple Question On LGBT Rights

Indiana Gov. Mike Pence still can’t answer “yes” or “no” to the question: “Should Indiana LGBTs be able to be fired just for being who they are?”

From Freedom Indiana:

Indiana Governor Mike Pence has never been able to answer the question of whether he believes LGBT Hoosiers should be fired for who they are. Time after time, he has dodged the question of why he does not support comprehensive non-discrimination protections for LGBT people. Take action with Freedom Indiana and call for comprehensive LGBT-inclusive non-discrimination here.

 He is, however, very quick to pivot to the “religious freedom” of Hoosiers to be able to discriminate, isn’t he?

Watch below.

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Indiana: Gov. Mike Pence Indicates Support For Religious Freedoms Over LGBT Protections

Indiana Gov. Mike Pence

In his State of the State address last night, Indiana Gov. Mike Pence said he plans to put religious freedom issues over anti-discrimination policies for LGBTs.

From LGBTQ Nation:

The Republican governor said in his half-hour televised State of the State speech before legislators that no one should be mistreated because of “who they love or what they believe.” But he also said that “no one should ever fear persecution because of their deeply held religious beliefs.”

“I will not support any bill that diminishes the religious freedom of Hoosiers or interferes with the constitutional rights of our citizens to live out their beliefs in worship, service or work,” Pence said.

Major business leaders across the state were NOT impressed.

Speaking for the group Indiana Competes, which represents prominent state business interests, Peter Hansom said,“We were looking for a moment of leadership, and what we got is a shoulder shrug.”

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News Round-Up: October 28, 2015

Baby panda kindergarten

Some news stories you may have missed:

• You know you want to see what baby panda kindergarten looks like at the Chengdu Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding in China. #SuperCuteness

• Outgoing Speaker of the House John Boehner and White House may have found enough common ground to pass a two year federal budget bill. See what can happen when Congress does it’s job? Will wonders never cease?

• After 20 years, a man issues an apology to a gay couple he taunted in public.

• Indiana Republican Brent Randall may oppose equal protections for LGBTs, but he believes in his right to have an active profile on a gay dating website. Btw, Randall erroneously believes Indiana state law protects LGBTs – a fact Gov. Pence and all of America is well aware is untrue.

• A month ago, the anti-LGBT group One Million Moms launched a boycott against Frito Lay/Pepsico due to the company’s “rainbow Doritos,” which was a limited run of colorful chips with the intent to raise money against bullying. Not only did the chips sell out in 24 hours, the company’s stock has gone up 10% in one month. Good job, OMM!

Pepsico stock rises 10% in the last month
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News Round-Up: June 19, 2015

Some news stories you may have missed:

• Chris Pratt, star of the biggest movie in the world (Jurassic World) says he’s ok if women want to “objectify” him. It’s cool with me, too 🙂

• For seven minutes in 2000 President Clinton considered publicly supporting marriage equality.

• The ironically named National Organization for Marriage asks all GOP presidential candidates to sign a pledge to promising to support a constitutional ban on same-sex marriage.

• After Indiana’s “Religious Freedom Restoration Act” debacle only 32% of voters support his re-election.

• Did you hear the one about a Texas oil exec that stopped his car so he could punch out a gay couple? Sadly, it really happened.

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Indiana: South Bend Mayor Pete Buttigieg Comes Out

(photo via South Bend Tribune)

In advance of the impending ruling from SCOTUS on marriage equality and the aftermath of Indiana’s disastrous “Religious Freedom Restoration Act” debacle, South Bend Mayor Pete Buttigieg pens an essay for the South Bend Tribune in which he makes the decision to come out.

“I was well into adulthood before I was prepared to acknowledge the simple fact that I am gay. It took years of struggle and growth for me to recognize that it’s just a fact of life, like having brown hair, and part of who I am.

“Putting something this personal on the pages of a newspaper does not come easy. We Midwesterners are instinctively private to begin with, and I’m not used to viewing this as anyone else’s business.

“But it’s clear to me that at a moment like this, being more open about it could do some good. For a local student struggling with her sexuality, it might be helpful for an openly gay mayor to send the message that her community will always have a place for her.

“And for a conservative resident from a different generation, whose unease with social change is partly rooted in the impression that he doesn’t know anyone gay, perhaps a familiar face can be a reminder that we’re all in this together as a community.”

Buttigieg closes with the hope that someday his children will wonder why a mayor coming out would ever be newsworthy.

Having been elected mayor of South Bend at the age of 30, and serving in Afghanistan with the US Navy Reserves, I think Buttigieg sounds like a great example to folks in the Midwest that gays are not only people they know, but folks who set a great example.

(h/t JMG)

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Walmart Fight: “This Is White Trash At It’s Finest”

A brawl breaks out at an Indiana Walmart over a crowded aisle. As one woman complains to a store employee, another defends the employee.

The two customers end up on the floor in a fight with one of the women telling her young son, “Johnny, punch her in the face! Punch her in the f*&king face!”

At several points, the boy did indeed join in as his mother wrestled on top of the second woman. He kicked the second woman in the head, and picked up cans of what look like hairspray to hit the woman in the head.

During the incident one onlooker can be heard saying, “This is white trash at it’s finest.”

Sad.

(h/t JMG)

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Barney Frank No Fan Of The Underwoods: “I Would Ban House Of Cards From Being Shown”

Openly gay retired elder statesman of Congress, Barney Frank, stopped by Conan last night and chimed in on the recent kerfuffle over Indiana’s Religious Freedom Restoration Act:

“In Indiana the calvary arrived, by which I mean the business community. In America, it’s nice to have the morally committed people on your side, but when the profit motive comes into the fight then you’re in great shape.”

It also seems that Frank is not a fan of the Netflix hit series HOUSE OF CARDS, saying “I’m a great believer in free speech and I defend the right of people to say obnoxious things about me and everybody else, but if I was going to make an exception, I would ban House of Cards from being shown.”

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Memories Pizza Owners Come Out Of Hiding Since $842,000 Windfall

The owners of Memories Pizza in Walkerton, Indiana, have come out of hiding for the first time since they told the world they would not serve a gay couple food for a wedding.

Via the Daily Mail:

In an exclusive first interview inside Memories Pizza restaurant since it closed down last week, owner Kevin O’Connor and daughter Crystal emerged from hiding and told Daily Mail Online they had been heartened by the support of 29,000 people who donated and many more who wrote to them.

They revealed they are set to share their new fortune with disabled children, a women’s help group, fire fighters, police trusts, Christian churches and Washington florist Barronelle Stutzman, 70, who was fined after declaring she would not serve a gay wedding.

The O’Connors are being advised by financial guru Ed Butowsky, an expert in the investment wealth management industry. He said: “Mr O’Connor and Crystal are genuine people. He is devastated that he has given Walkerton a bad name and people around the US might view it as a gay hating town. It is not that. But the O’Connors believe what they believe and that is their right. They want to share the money they have received and we are discussing how best that should happen. Nothing has been decided 100 per cent, but some charities will receive money as will Barronelle Stutzman who they wish to support.”

Mr. O’Connor adds that ‘ If any child of mine came out as gay and entered into a gay marriage, I would still love them, but Daddy wouldn’t be going to the wedding.’

It would seem that Barronelle Stutzman becomes a double recipient as a separate crowd-sourcing campaign has already raised over $150,000.

Hate pays, huh?

It’s worth noting that the Daily Mail regularly pays for stories and interviews. Just saying…

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Rihanna Denounces Indiana RFRA Laws During NCAA Performance

Pop superstar Rihanna threw down on Indiana’s RFRA law during her performance at the NCAA March Madness Music Fest in Indianapolis this weekend.

Just as she was about to launch into “Live Your Life,” the singer shared her opinion of the anti-gay legislation.

Rihanna also used her headlining performance to slam Indiana’s controversial Religious Freedom Restoration Act (RFRA). Although the bill was amended to make it less discriminatory toward the LGBT community, Rihanna still unloaded on the RFRA in an expletive-laden tirade prior to performing “Live Your Life.”

“Who’s feeling these new bullshit laws that they’re trying to pass over here? I say fuck that shit,” Rihanna told the crowd, inciting chants of “Fuck that shit.” “We’re just living our motherfucking lives. Indiana!” Although Rihanna’s March Madness performance was live-streamed, her Indiana comments were heavily censored upon broadcast.